Abstract: Mathematics is a subject that has developed differently throughout various societies through time. Papyri left behind by the Egyptians and clay tablets from the Babylonians allow us to understand how these civilizations developed their ideas of mathematics and how they used mathematical concepts in their culture. Studying the evidence left behind by these people allow us to understand their number systems and their understanding and use of simple arithmetic concepts.
Introduction
Egyptians and Babylonians are groups of people who both developed mathematical concepts on their own societies. We can learn much from their ways of thinking by the evidence that was left from them. Egyptians are famous for their hieroglyphics which …show more content…
The Babylonian number system, like the Egyptian, used a symbol to represent 1 and used it repeatedly to represent the numbers 1-9. Once 10 was reached, they created a different symbol to represent that numeral. As we can see in Figure 1, for the numerals up to 60, the procedure seems to be very similar to the Egyptians, but after 60, it changes. Unlike the Egyptians’ number system, the Babylonians’ was a positional system, meaning that the location of the symbols was very important. For numbers after 60, the Babylonian number system positioned the symbols carefully and was sexagesimal, meaning it was base …show more content…
Thanks to the Egyptian papyri and Babylonian tablets that have been found, it was possible to see and understand the number systems that were created by these societies and get an idea of their ways of thinking. Not only does the evidence found help us understand the different number systems of the past, but serves to prove that the Egyptians and Babylonians had a clear understanding of simple arithmetic such as addition, subtraction and multiplication. There is many artifacts that have been left behind by these societies that would be interesting to analyze to help us see the great mathematical knowledge that these ancient civilizations
Introduction
Egyptians and Babylonians are groups of people who both developed mathematical concepts on their own societies. We can learn much from their ways of thinking by the evidence that was left from them. Egyptians are famous for their hieroglyphics which …show more content…
The Babylonian number system, like the Egyptian, used a symbol to represent 1 and used it repeatedly to represent the numbers 1-9. Once 10 was reached, they created a different symbol to represent that numeral. As we can see in Figure 1, for the numerals up to 60, the procedure seems to be very similar to the Egyptians, but after 60, it changes. Unlike the Egyptians’ number system, the Babylonians’ was a positional system, meaning that the location of the symbols was very important. For numbers after 60, the Babylonian number system positioned the symbols carefully and was sexagesimal, meaning it was base …show more content…
Thanks to the Egyptian papyri and Babylonian tablets that have been found, it was possible to see and understand the number systems that were created by these societies and get an idea of their ways of thinking. Not only does the evidence found help us understand the different number systems of the past, but serves to prove that the Egyptians and Babylonians had a clear understanding of simple arithmetic such as addition, subtraction and multiplication. There is many artifacts that have been left behind by these societies that would be interesting to analyze to help us see the great mathematical knowledge that these ancient civilizations