Mayan Mathematical Systme

Math Final Project
Scientific Essay: “Mayan Mathematical System”




Matematicas III 11/10/10INDEX:

Summary Pg.1

Introduction Pg.1

Topic DevelopmentPg.2

Conclusion Pg 3

References Pg4

Summary:

The Mayans started to count with fingers and toes since 250 B.C. Their first system was the vigesimal system which was based on twenty units. There are several myths that talk about the zero invention, which are the invention ofthe Arabs and the Mayans. Before they discover the zero they used only a dot or leave a space in blank but that was confusing so they decide it to represent it as a shell. The several symbols were the dot which was represent as 5, the bar that was equivalent to 1 unit and the shell that was the same as the zero. Mayan numbers were written vertically and horizontally. Some examples are: xix im,hun, caa, ox, can, hoo, uac, uuc, uaxac, bolon & lahun.
Their architecture were the pyramids that their construct, also the way they know the exact hour and time. And the way they applied the mathematics in their lives, among this research you will se how we don’t have control in our technology because we used only techno things nowadays to know everything.

Introduction:

I am going totalk about Mayan mathematical system. In this essay I am going to ask different questions: how do they start? How was the cero invented? What symbols do the use? How they can be written? The purpose is to know different methods of mathematics used in that time, to know more things about my country. I found the answers of the questions that I wrote before. First I am going to talk about how theystart and then talk about the different methods. Then to give my opinions of the topic, to write some examples and to see how easy mathematics were in those ages.
For this essay I used internet, books and most of all my brain. Around the essay you will se several facts that are interesting like they methods they used to made pyramids and to see who invented first the zero. People that will readthis will take this as general culture from its country. Is good to know more about our pasts, who knew that we invented the zero. Mayan system is interesting because is the one based on the construction of the pyramids and certain facts of the calendar, also the meanings of the signs they used that were called for them “numbers.”
My topic is Mayan mathematical system I choose this topicbecause I was curious about my country, and how do they start, to see how difficult it was in those ages. Also I knew about different methods or sings that were used to represent the numbers, and because understand the different names that they had. They were used to count with their fingers and toes; their first system was the vigesimal system, different from ours because it was based on groups oftwenty units. The cero was invented because of the market were they bought. All the mathematical strategies that they invented were applied in the moment they made pyramids such as the ones that are in Chichen- Itza, Tulum, Tikali and Palenque. According to the website lost-civilizations “Mayan Pyramids in Mexico - Teotihuacan. (n.d.). Lost civilizations. Retrieved November 9, 2010, from...