Maya numerals

High school (ages 12+)
Mathematics & Numbers

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/maya-numerals

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the number system base?Vigesimal (base-20) positional numeral system
2. What is the geographic and cultural origin?Ancient Maya civilization, flourishing in Mesoamerica from the Preclassic to Postclassic periods
3. How did the Maya count with dots, bars, and shells?A dot means one, a bar means five, and a shell means zero. By combining them, the Maya could write any number.
4. Why did the Maya use base‑20 instead of base‑10?They chose twenty because it matches the number of fingers and toes on a human body. This helped them count in multiples of twenty.

Vigesimal System: A numerical system with a base of twenty, utilizing twenty distinct digits or symbols.
Positional Notation: A system where the value of a numeral is determined by its position relative to other numerals.
Glyph: A symbolic figure or character representing a word, syllable, or concept, common in Maya writing and art.
Calendrics: The study and practice of calendar systems, particularly their construction and astronomical basis.