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Numeration System

The Egyptian numeration system developed around 3400 BCE and was a base-10 decimal system. It used hieroglyphs to represent values such as ones, tens, hundreds, and powers of ten up to millions. More complex numbers were written additively by combining symbols. While zero was not required, Egyptians had a symbol for it and used it for engineering and accounting. Fractions were written as sums of unit fractions and could be depicted using hieroglyphs as well.

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195 views

Numeration System

The Egyptian numeration system developed around 3400 BCE and was a base-10 decimal system. It used hieroglyphs to represent values such as ones, tens, hundreds, and powers of ten up to millions. More complex numbers were written additively by combining symbols. While zero was not required, Egyptians had a symbol for it and used it for engineering and accounting. Fractions were written as sums of unit fractions and could be depicted using hieroglyphs as well.

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banumathiraj
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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EGYPTION NUMERATION SYSTEM

THE EGYPTIAN NUMERATION SYSTEM One of the earliest examples of a numeral system is the Egyptian numeral system, based on the following hieroglyphs The Egyptian numeration system, which developed around 3400 B.C.E., involves grouping by ten. In addition, this system

introduced new symbols for powers of ten.

Notice that the first nine numerals are pictographic in character, but the remaining ones are logographic in character.43 Notice also that this is a decimal system. What the above illustration does not tell us, however, is how the Egyptians wrote compound numerals. As it turns out, the Egyptians used a simple additive system, as illustrated in the following diagrams.

Note carefully that although the Egyptian numeral system does not especially require a symbol for zero, the Egyptians nevertheless had a symbol for zero that they used for a variety of engineering and accounting purposes, including some rather astonishing projects, such as the Pyramids (c. 2550 BC). A major disadvantage of this system is that computation is cumbersome. The Egyptians had a bases 10 system of hieroglyphs for numerals. By this we mean that they has separate symbols for one unit, one ten, one hundred, one thousand, one ten thousand, one hundred thousand, and one millioTo make up the number 276, for example, fifteen symbols were required: two "hundred" symbols, seven "ten" symbols, and six "unit" symbols. The numbers appeared thus:

276 in hieroglyphs. Here is another example:

4622 in hieroglyphs.

Digits and numbers The following hieroglyphs were used to denote powers of ten: 1 Value 1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 or infinity million,

Hieroglyph

or

Description

Single stroke

Heel bone

Coil rope

of

Water Lotus)

lily

Man Tadpole both or Frog hands raised

with

(also called Finger

Multiples of these values were expressed by repeating the symbol as many times as needed. For instance, a stone carving from Karnak shows the number 4622 as

Egyptian hieroglyphs could be written in both directions (and even vertically). This example is written left-to-right and top-down; on the original stone carving, it is rightto-left, and the signs are thus reversed. Fractions Main article: Egyptian fraction Rational numbers could also be expressed, but only as sums of unit fractions, i.e., sums of reciprocals of positive integers, except for 2/3 and 3/4. The hieroglyph indicating a fraction looked like a mouth, which meant "part":

Fractions were written with this fractional solidus, i.e., the numerator 1, and the positive denominator below. Thus, 1/3 was written as:

There were special symbols for 1/2 and for two non-unit fractions, 2/3 (used frequently) and 3/4 (used less frequently):

If the denominator became too large, the "mouth" was just placed over the beginning of the "denominator":

Addition and subtraction For plus and minus signs, the hieroglyphs and were used: if the feet pointed into the direction of writing, it signified addition, otherwise subtraction. [1]

WORD PROBLEM In one village in Egypt the king of them whose name was Tutankhamen has passed away. The people who lives there decided to build a pyramid for the king Tutankhamen. All the people meets together and agree to provide 1000 stones each for family. They lived about 100,000 families in that village. Then they decided that 3 members in each family must present to help build the pyramid. 10 families in that village does not send any members from them to build the pyramid. Other families send 3 members to build the pyramid. Then about 589 families provide 100 stones for building of the pyramid. The others still have not provided the stones for build the pyramid. Calculate the number of people who present to help build the pyramid for their king and the number of stones that they have now. UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM provide 1000 stones each for family 100,000 families 3 members in each family 10 families in that village does not send any members. Remaining families send 3 members to build the pyramid 89 families does not provide stones for the construction of the pyramid. Calculate the number of people who present to help build the pyramid for their king and the number of stones that they have now? Devise a plan By using mathematical operations . Amount of stones that have for build the pyramids are (100,000 x 1000) (89 x 1000) 100,000,000 - 89000 = 99911000 stones Number of workers who available for build the pyramid (100,000x3) (10 x 3)

= 300000-30 = 299970

CARRY OUT THE PLAN Amount of stones that have for build the pyramids are (100,000 x 1000) (89 x 1000) 100,000,000 - 89000 = 99911000 stones Number of workers who available for build the pyramid (100,000x3) (10 x 3) = 300000-30 = 299970 Number of workers from each family who came to build the pyramid s are 299970. Number of stones that have to build the pyramids are 99911000 stones. LOOK BACK 299970 workers + ( 10 FAMILIES X 3) = 300000 99911000 stones + (89 x 1000) = 100,000,000 SOLUTION IN EGYPTION NUMERATION SYSTEM Amount of stones that have for build the pyramids are X X

Number of workers who available for build the pyramid

. 10

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