DATE: 24.6.

2014
QUESTION: Describe three similarities and three differences
between the Mayan number system and the Hindu-Arabic
system.
Similarities
Both have place value system.
Could do addition and subtraction even if it was difficult in
the Mayan system
Both use a "zero" symbol as a placeholder

Differences
Differences between Mayan number system
and Hindu Arabic system
Mayan

Hindu-Arabic

Number System

system

Read or make it from top to bottom

Read it or make it left to right

Base number is 20

Base number is 10

Only 3 symbols

Up to ten (including zero) symbols