Introduction - JSS2 Mathematics Lesson Note

 

EARLY COUNTING

In ancient times, people needed a way to keep track of things like food, animals, and resources. They began by using their fingers and toes to count. This is why many numeral systems are based on ten or twenty. As societies grew, people needed more advanced ways to keep track of larger quantities.

 

TALLY MARKS

One of the earliest methods of counting involved making marks on bones or pieces of wood. These marks are called tally marks. For example, one mark represented one item, two marks represented two items, and so on. This method was simple but not very practical for large numbers.

 

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN NUMERALS

The ancient Egyptians created one of the first numeral systems around 3000 BCE. They used symbols to represent numbers:

·        A single vertical line for 1

·        A heel bone symbol for 10

·        A coil of rope for 100

·        A lotus plant for 1,000

·        A finger for 10,000

·        A tadpole for 100,000

·        A figure of a god for 1,000,000

 

They combined these symbols to represent larger numbers.

 

BABYLONIAN NUMERALS

The Babylonians, around 2000 BCE, developed a base60 numeral system. They used two symbols: a wedge for 1 and a corner wedge for 10. This system was more advanced and could represent very large numbers. Interestingly, our current way of measuring time (60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour) comes from the Babylonian system.

 

ROMAN NUMERALS

The Romans, around 500 BCE, created a numeral system that used letters:

 

·        II for 2

·        III for 3

·        IV for 4

·        V for 5

·        VI for 6

·        VII for 7

·        VIII for 8

·        IX for 9

·        X for 10

·        XI for 11

·        XL for 40

·        L for 50

·        LX for 60

·        XC for 90

·        C for 100

·        CX for 110

·        CD for 400

·        D for 500

·        DC for 600

·        CM for 900

·        M for 1,000

 

Roman numerals are still used today in some places, like on clocks and for numbering chapters in books.

 

THE HINDUARABIC NUMERAL SYSTEM

The most important development in numerals came from ancient India. Around 500 CE, Indian mathematicians invented a place value system with nine digits (19) and a symbol for zero (0). This system made arithmetic much easier.

 

Arab traders and scholars brought this system to the Middle East and Europe. The system is called the Hindu Arabic numeral system because it was developed by Indian mathematicians and spread by Arab scholars.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF ZERO

Zero is a unique and powerful concept. It was first used as a placeholder in the Hindu Arabic numeral system to show an empty place value (like in 205, where zero shows that there are no tens). It also represents the idea of 'nothing,' which was a revolutionary concept in mathematics.

 

MODERN NUMERALS

Today, the Hindu Arabic numeral system is used all over the world. It includes ten digits (09) and is the foundation of modern mathematics and science. This system is easy to use for calculations, which is why it has become the universal standard.

 

CONCLUSION

The development of the numeral system has a long and fascinating history. From tally marks and ancient symbols to the advanced place value system we use today, numerals have evolved to meet the needs of growing civilizations. Understanding this history helps us appreciate the tools we use in our everyday lives to count, measure, and explore the world.