Maya numerals



         


Numeral systems

Arabic numerals
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Maya numerals
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Numeral system




Mayan Numbers as shown in Maya codices


The ancient Maya civilization used a vigesimal (base-20) numeral system.

The numerals are made up of three symbols; zero (egg shape), one (a dot) and five (a bar).

For example, 19 is written as four dots in a horizontal row above three horizontal lines stacked upon each other.

Digits are stacked with the higher significant digits at the top. Thus, two dots above each other would be read as 1×20 + 1 = 21.

Other than the bar and dot notation, Maya numerals can be illustrated by face type glyphs.






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