What is a number?!
Throughout history, many different cultures have used a variety of number systems to help them with commerce, record keeping and basic arithmetic.
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Some number systems use "additive numeration" - this means that they determine numbers by adding and subtracting symbols together.
This was not effective long term, so we began to look at "multiplicative numeration" - The first number systems used a combination of adding numbers and multiplying those groups of numbers. This was, once again, not very effective. Place value systems were created. These are called "base systems". |
Base Systems
Our number system is what we call a "base system". This means that we have a base of numbers that we use to create EVERY single number. A common base number system that we use today (primarily with technology) is called binary. As we can see, binary is also used for time travel! >>>>>>>>>>> Let's try out some other base systems to REALLY see how this works... Base 10 System
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Our number system only has 10 digits in it, which is what we call a Base 10 System. We start at 1 and count up to 9. A zero is used to show place value as it holds the place of a number. Remember 0 is a symbol showing the absence of a number in a given value. Let's see how this works!
Explore... You will work as P.I.G.s for the remainder of class to explore a variety of early number systems. Copies of each system can be found at the front of the classroom, along with some examples and problems. Once you have determined how a number system works, you can challenge your friends to answer your own problems or questions, OR create your own number system.