The Egyptian Numeration System

Whitney Hale

How do we know what the Egyptian language of numbers is?

• It has been found on the writings on the stones of monument walls of ancient time. Numbers have also been found on pottery, limestone plaques, and on the fragile fibers of the papyrus. The language is composed of hieroglyphs, which are pictorial signs that represent people, animals, plants, and numbers.

Origin and Hieroglyphics• Around 3000 B.C., the ancient Egyptians began to use

hieroglyphics (picture writing) to write numerals.• Hieroglyphics is a form of writing in which picture symbols are

used to represent ideas and sounds. • The word hieroglyphics comes from two Greek words that mean

sacred carving. • Hieroglyphics most often refers to the writing used in ancient

Egypt, however, forms of picture writing were also used in other ancient cultures, such as the Maya and Aztec Indians who lived in Central America.

Things to know about the Egyptian Numeration System

• Based on 10• Did not include the number 0• The Egyptians formed numerals by putting

basic symbols together. • With this system, Egyptians could put

symbols in any order, because the value of a symbol did not depend on its position.

Egyptian Number System Table

Staff = 1Heelbone = 10

Scroll = 100Lotus Flower = 1000

Pointing Finger = 10,000Fish = 100,000

Astonished Man = 100,000,000

Example:

Your turn!• Solve the following problem:

= 2,563

Nice Job!

Don’t be fooled!• This is only a basic understanding of

the Egyptian Numeration System. • The Egyptian’s were able to multiply,

divide, and develop fractions with this number system.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoevycJ1bbY

Resources:

• http://kangwei1a14.tripod.com/egyptian.htm

• http://www.eyelid.co.uk/numbers.htm

• http://www.math.wichita.edu/history/topics/num-sys.html