Mayan Number System
The Mayan people lived in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico about 3,000 years ago. They loved the number 360 and they created a number system to use this number. They designed a modified place value system where every place after the two on the right has a factor of 360.
The Mayans did not use fractions.
Their interest in Base 20 probably came from counting their fingers and toes. Beyond that, their main interest in counting was astronomy and calendars.
The Mayans also recorded their numbers vertically.
Watch these videos to learn more:
|
|