Friday 30 December 2011

Babylonian Numerals

Babylonian Numbers :
    Babylonians were the first people to develop the written number system. Their number system is based on Sexagesimal System. It appeared around 1900 BC to 1800 BC.
The Babylonian number system had only two basic elements; l and < . 
59 numbers are built from these two symbols.



Example:
For example, 1,45,29,36 represents the sexagesimal number
1 x 60³ + 45 x 60² + 29 x 60 + 36
= 1 x 216000 + 45 x 3600 + 29 x 60 + 36
= 216000 + 162000 + 1740 + 36
The decimal notation is 379776

1,45,29,36 in Babylonian Numerals


Babylonians did not have a digit for zero, instead they used a space to mark the nonexistence of a digit in a certain place value.
Example:
4,0,8 in Babylonian Numerals

No comments:

Post a Comment

Animated Blinking Gingerbread Man Kamikaze Cocktail