Mayan Math
The Mayan math system is a vigesimal (base-20) system requiring only three symbols representing the numbers zero, one, and five. All other numbers are derived from these three symbols, distinguished by positional notation. Positionally Mayan numbers can be written from either top to bottom or left to right, with the highest value number being in the top position or on the leftmost position, respectively.
An interesting point to note is the Maya were using the concept of zero in their mathematical system over 1,000 years prior to the European adoption of zero around the 11th century.
Mayan Numbers
| 0 |  |
1 |  |
2 |  |
3 |  |
4 |  |
| 5 |  |
6 |  |
7 |  |
8 |  |
9 |  |
| 10 |  |
11 |  |
12 |  |
13 |  |
14 |  |
| 15 |  |
16 |  |
17 |  |
18 |  |
19 |  |
To compute a number in Mayan math you simply multiply the numerical value of the position by the number of times it occurs and then add the numbers.
Top to Bottom Notation
| [1] | [2] | [3] | [4] | [5] | [6] | |
| 160,000 |  |
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| 8000 | |
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| 400 | |
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| 20 | |
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| 1 | |
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| = | 40 | 187 | 2,012 | 11,507 | 48,304 | 161,731 |
[1] -> (20 x 2) + (1 x 0) = 40
[2] -> (20 x 9) + (1 x 7) = 187
[3] -> (400 x 5) + (20 x 0) + (1 x 12) = 2012
[4] -> (8000 x 1) + (400 x 7) + (20 x 12) + (1 x 17) = 11,507
[5] -> (8000 x 6) + (400 x 0) + (20 x 15) + (1 x 4) = 48,304
[6] -> (160,000 x 1) + (8000 x 0) + (400 x 4) + (20 x 6) + (1 x 11) = 161,731