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“Something to Count on”

“Something to Count on”. Spring Semester, 2001. By: Jenny Thomas. (Click to continue………).

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“Something to Count on”

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  1. “Something to Count on” Spring Semester, 2001 By: Jenny Thomas (Click to continue………)

  2. Alexander the Greatinvaded Gandhara, a part of the Persian Empire in the northwest corner of India in about 325 B. C. At this time, much of Greek culture, including the mathematicians, took political refuge in India. This invasion opened a doorway between India (now including Greek knowledge) and distant countries to the West. This doorway allowed the exchange of ideas and information between the two regions. Our Hindu-Arabic numbering system, the numbers we see, use and count on everyday, is a direct result of this exchange.

  3. By 300 B.C., building on mathematics learned from the Greeks, Hindu mathematicians had developed a system very similar to what we have today. There were separate digits for 1 through 9, plus the concept of zero, which is necessary for our present place value system. In a place value system the place of the digit within a number (first, second, third, etc) indicates the value of the digit (ones, tens, hundreds, etc).

  4. One of the most important developments of early mathematics, the zero began as a dot similar to our decimal point. Gradually this dot grew into a circle and became the symbol for nothing. In our place value system the zero allows the writing of numbers such as 201. Here the zero holds the “tens place” making it clear that the “2” means “2 hundreds”, not “2 ones”, “2 tens” or even “2 thousands”. By the way, the word “zero” is from the Arabic “sifr”.

  5. Beginning in the early seventh century A.D., Arab rule included the Middle East, to Europe and Spain, as well as Northern Africa. Translated in Baghdad, both Greek and Hindu Mathematics books began to be available to more people. With capitals in Baghdad in the East and Cordoba, Spain, in the West, the knowledge and ideas gleaned from India were thus distributed through out the known world.

  6. Hence, we have the Hindu-Arabic numbering system - named for the Hindus (who invented it) and the Arabs (who distributed it). But what if that doorway between the two worlds had never been opened? What would we count on then?

  7. Not so long ago……… in a math class not so far away……… I HAD A NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!

  8. In my dream, all Hindu-Arabic numbers had regressed to various ancient numbering systems………

  9. Looking at my digital clock, instead of 6:00 AM, to my amazement I see... Bamboo Counting Rods (Now, this is just TOO much!!!)

  10. Turning from that sight, there is my calendar. No longer showing 02/14/2001, now it is Egyptian Hieroglyphs (Maybe King Tut can explain this to me!!!)

  11. Hoping for some sign of normalcy,I look at my day planner, but it’s all Greek to me!!! I am shocked to realize my mother is not about to turn 73 years old, but instead will be (Happy Birthday, Mom!) (Attic Greek)

  12. Looking further, it is spooky to realize that instead of being 10/31, Halloween is now (Ionic Greek) (Boy, this is getting scary!

  13. My class notes have also been transformed: Columbus didn’t discover America in 1492. It is now Mayan General Numerals

  14. And Pearl Harbor Day is no longer 12/7/1941. It has now become Mayan Calendrical Numerals

  15. Driving to work, I stop to put gas in my car. Even with my glasses, the pump no longer shows 1.499. Instead, I see Ancient Chinese

  16. In near panic, I return home. Looking at my speedometer, I am appalled to see that I am NOT going 45 mph. Instead, I am going Babylonian Numerals

  17. In a desperate search for sanity I look at my morning paper. In the 2001 Super Bowl, instead of Baltimore beating New York 34 to 7, it is now XXXIV to VII!!! Roman Numerals have taken over my sports page!!

  18. Totally rattled, I hear a loud ringing in my ears. Louder and louder until finally I WAKE UP!! It was all a terrible nightmare! The world has returned to normal, and I now have a greater appreciation of Hindu-Arabic numbers. I hope you do too.

  19. Sources: Book Mathematica, Professor Leo Lusk, c. 2000 ”Countless Ways to Count” Sharon Huntington, Christian Science Monitor 12/31/1996, Vol. 89, Issue 25, p. 16 “Mathsticks of Early China” Du Shi-ran, UNESCO Courier, Nov 93, Vol. 46, Issue 11, p18 Hindu-Arabic Numerals http://scitsc.wlv.ac.uk/university/scit/modules/mm2217/han.htm The Mayas: http://www.michielb.nl/maya/astro.html Egyptian Hieroglyphs: http://www.eyelid.co.uk/

  20. For more information click the links below. *History of Hindu-Arabic Numbers: http://scitsc.wlv.ac.uk/university/scit/modules/mm2217/countsys.htm *Alexander the Great: http://history.idbsu.edu/westciv/alexander *The Mayas: http://www.michielb.nl/maya/astro.html *Egyptian Hieroglyphs: http://www.eyelid.co.uk/ *Babylonian and Egyptian Mathematics: http://www.-groups.dsc.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/ Babylonian_and_Egyptian.html *Real Numbers: http://www.rbjones.com/rbjpub/maths/math008.htm (Click ESC to exit)

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