Download Slide 1

The Maya Civilization
Around 2600 B.C-XVI in Central
America
Pre-Columbian Civilization
Southeast of Mexico
West of Honduras and Salvador
North of Belize and Guatemala
Writing
They were the first to implant a
writing system that represents the
spoken language of their
community.
Agriculture
Economy based on Agriculture
Maya means :
those who cultivate the corn
No metal tools
Science
•Astronomy development
•Development of Matematics tools
to calculate the movement in the
sky notably the moon and sun.
•Master the 0 numeral
•Solar year very precised times is
counted in days, period of 20 days,
in years of 360 days
THE MAYAN NUMERATION
•
1
Pure Vigesimal system for
counting objects
5
Modified Vigesimal system for
days
 3 signs are used to write the
numbers
0
••
2
••
7
Numeration is additive
from 1 to 19
2 ways of writing it…
•
NO SPECIFIC SYMBOLS FOR NUMBER GREATER THAN 19
INSTEAD… SYSTEM OF POSITION
The Maya were not using the same system to count objects and
numbers….
Objects
Unit of Time
20x20x20x20
20x18x20x20
20x20x20
20x18x20
20x20
20x18
20
20
1
1
Counting from 20…
Numeration is one of POSITION
Every number more than 20 needs to be decomposed into the sum of
powers of 20
EX : 21= 20x1 +1
79=20x3+19
If a number is more than 20 than we need to write it on a vertical column.
The position of the number determined its value
We read the number from top to bottom and the power of 20 decreases.
Think of floors
•The 2nd floor is a multiple of 20
Second Floor
First floor
1 x 20
•
• 1
1 x 20 + 1 = 21
•••
••••
3 x 20 + 19 =
3 x20
19
79
•The 3rd floor is a multiple of 360
(18x20)=360
12 x 18 x 20
0 x 20
5
12 x 18 x 20 + (0 x 20) + 5 = 4325
•The 4th floor or a multiple of
18x20x20=7200
15x18x20x20=108000
4x18x20=1440
7x20=140
10
109590
Quizz !!!
1. Convert 25 into the Mayan System
25
Quizz !!!
1. Convert 25 into the Mayan System
25
•
2) Convert the following Maya number into a
normal number
••
?
2) Convert the following Maya number into a
normal number
••
350
3) Convert the number into a Mayan Number
19578
19578=14400 +5040+120+18
=(2 x 7200)+ (14 x 360) +(6x20) +18
4th Floor
3th Floor
2th Floor
1th Floor
19578=14400 +5040+120+18
=(2 x 7200)+ (14 x 360) +(6x20) +18
••
••••
•
•••
2x18x20x20
14x18x20
6x20
18