Chinese Numeration System
Sydney Aymar
Number System Explanation/Base
- Base: 10
- Digits: 0-9
- A number passed 10 was written as a basic math problem.
- Twelve is "ten two"
Timeline
The picture below shows the dynasties and the time period on the right, and the type of math system that was used in the corresponding time period on the left.
Symbols
The early Chinese numeration system was quite simple. There were only the numbers 0-9, so any larger numbers were represented by putting smaller numbers together to make larger numbers.
Example :
"The number 75 is written in Chinese using the characters 7, 10, and 5. In Chinese you need to say that you have 7 tens first. 7 tens is how 70 is represented. Once you have the tens place in Chinese, you can finish writing the number with the character for 5. Chinese has no character for ones, but a character is used for the other place values. The character for ten is needed. You cannot write 75 as.”
"The Chinese Numeration System ." edHelper. n.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2016. <http://edhelper.com/ChineseNumbersIntro.htm>.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Functions
Calculations (+, -, x, /)
- +
- x
- "The base ten system is easy for us to understand, and multiplication and addition can be performed with comparative ease. It also requires less symbols than the additive systems of Egypt and Rome."
Additional Information
When researching the numeration system, I came across different web pages. I found that not all web pages had the same representation of the numbers. Many different numeration systems and expansions to systems happened within China. Ever so often, usually aroud a dynasty change, a new math was introduced. I did find out that although there were many different types of math and symbols, they still had to add individual symbols (numbers) to create larger numbers.
Citations:
"The Chinese Numeration System ." edHelper. n.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2016. <http://edhelper.com/ChineseNumbersIntro.htm>.
O'Connor , J J, and E F. Robertson. "Chinese numerals." Chinese numerals. n.p., Jan. 2004. Web. 9 May 2016. <http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/HistTopics/Chinese_numerals.html>.
"Chinese Mathematics." The Story of Mathematics. n.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2016. <http://www.storyofmathematics.com/chinese.html>.
Joyce, David E. "Mathematics in China." History of Mathematics. n.p., Dec. 1994. Web. 9 May 2016. <http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/mathhist/china.html>.
Calvert, J B. "Chinese Numbers." n.p., Feb. 2000. Web. 9 May 2016. <http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/math/chinum.htm>.