24 2. SET, WHOLE NUMBERS, AND NUMERATION

The answers in our numeration system:

The following table summarizes the attributes of the numeration systems wehave studied:

2.3. The Hindu-Arabic System

This is our system.

Features:

(1) 10 symbols can be used to represent all whole numbers —

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

(1A) Suppose we only used 5 symbols — 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.

(2) Grouping by 10’s – ours is a base 10 system.

(a) Bundles of sticks model – each group of 10 sticks is bundled with a rubberband.