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EVOLUTION OF NUMBER SYSTEM

NUMBER SYSTEM

A number system  is a writing system used  for expressing numbers, that is , a mathematical notation  for representing numbers of a given set, using digits or other symbols in a consistent manner.

Ideally, a number system will

Represent a useful set of numbers (e.g. all integers or rational numbers)

Give every number represented in a unique representation (or at least a standard representation)

Reflect the algebraic and arithmetic structure of the numbers.

The most commonly used system of numerals is known as Arabic numerals or Hindu–Arabic numerals. Two Indian mathematicians are credited with developing them. Aryabhata of Kusumapura developed the place-value notation  in the 5th century and a century later Brahmagupta  introduced the symbol for zero . The numeral system and the zero concept, developed by the Hindus in India slowly spread to other surrounding countries due to their commercial and military activities with India. The Arabs adopted it and modified them. The Arabs translated Hindu texts on numerology and spread it to the western world due to their trade links with them. The Western world modified them and called them the Arabic numerals, as they learnt from them. Hence the current western numeral system is the modified version of the Hindu numeral system developed in India

 

Types

The numerals used when writing numbers with digits or symbols can be divided into two types that might be called the arithmetic numerals 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and the geometric numerals 1,10,100,1000,10000... respectively.

The Basis of Our Number System

The number system that we use today is a place value decimal system. What that means is that not only the number, but the placement of the number is important.

 Take a look at the number 536. This incorporates three numerals: 5, 3 and 6. Because we use a place value system, we know that the 5 does not stand just for 5, it means 500. The 3stands for 30, and the 6, being in the ones place, is just 6. Rather than writing 500 + 30 + 6, our system allows us to write it simply as 536.

Our system is also decimal, because it is based upon increments of 10. We have 10 numerals in our system: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0. We count 1 through 9, then move to the next level with 10. Then we go up in the ones place through 9 before moving to the next 10s place

Hindus first began using a place value decimal system in 400 CE, where we first found inscriptions of 0.  (The Mayans  were using 0 before this time, and were the first to use it.)

The number system of ancient Egypt was decimal in nature but did not make use of place value. As a result of this, they didn't have a symbol for zero. There were two kinds of writing used in Egypt, hieroglyphics and  demotic (hieratic).  

The Egyptian Number System

1 vertical stroke

10 heel bone

100 coiled rope (snare)

1,000 lotus flower

10,000 bent finger 

100,000 burbot fish

1,000,000 kneeling figure 

In the hieroglyphic system, the symbols used were: 

  =1,000   

=10,000  =100,000 =1,000,000 

 

From ancient time our number system has developed a lot.

 

Sumer (a region of Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq) was the birthplace of writing, the wheel, agriculture, the arch, the plow, irrigation and many other innovations, and is often referred to as the Cradle of Civilization.The Sumerians developed the soonest known writing system .

Sumerian Mathematics  was developed largely due to bureaucratic needs when their civilisations settled and were largely dependent on agriculture than to settle land related problems

 

Alphabet number system came from the Phoenicians around 950 B.C. When the Phoenicians invented the alphabet number system, it contained about 600 symbols. Those symbols took lot of space, so Grecians eventually reduced it to 22 symbols. The Greeks borrowed some of the symbols and made up some of their own.

EVOLUTION OF NUMBER SYSTEM

Romans unlike the ancient Greeks weren't particularly interested in "pure" math, such as theorems about abstract geometry. They used their mathematics for more practical purposes, such as building roads, bridges, and temples out of stone, keeping accounts, and supplying their armies.

  Roman Number System was primary numeral system .

 Hindu-Arabic numeral system can indeed be termed

as “one of India's greatest contributions to the world” since many of the countries adopted the Indian numeral system.

 

The first and oldest calculating system was the hand (Finger number system), then came notches, pebbles, followed by numbers on strings (a memory tool made of knotted strings called a Quipu.) The invention of numbers/number system was not a linear process; some cultures developed numbering systems independent from each other, or tried to improve on an old system when they discovered that previously did not meet their needs.

 

Conclusion