In this activity we explore the number system of the ancient Babylonians.

The ancient Babylonians used cuneiform characters to write their numbers.

What are the 2 basic ancient Babylonian numerical symbols and what do they mean?
Discuss the limitations of the Babylonian system. Then debate whether these so-called limitations were actually limitations at all.
Is the Babylonian system more of a place-value system or a concatenation system?
Fill out the following table, simplifying any calculations.
\[\renewcommand {\arraystretch }{2.3} \begin{array}{| c | c || c | c || c | c |} \hline Hindu-Arabic & Cuneiform & Hindu-Arabic & Cuneiform & Hindu-Arabic & Cuneiform \\ \hline \hline 5 \times 1 & \hspace {20mm} & 5 \times 2 &\hspace {20mm} & 5 \times 3 & \hspace {20mm}\\ \hline 5 \times 4 & & 5 \times 5 & & 5 \times 6 & \\ \hline 5 \times 7 & & 5 \times 8 & & 5 \times 9 & \\ \hline 5 \times 10 & & 5 \times 20 & & 5 \times 30 & \\ \hline 5 \times 40 & & 5 \times 50 & & \frac 15 & \\ \hline \frac {1}{4} & & \frac {1}{9} & & \frac {1}{10}& \\ \hline \frac {5}{6} & & \frac {1}{20} & & \frac {1}{100} & \\ \hline \end{array} \]
Use your table to make the following calculations. You should work in base sixty, though you may use Hindu-Arabic numerals.
(a)
\(34 \times 5\)
(b)
\(1,47 \div 5\)
(c)
\(2,30 \div 4\)
(d)
\(8,6,15 \div 6,40\)
2025-01-06 15:51:45