IT ALL COMES DOWN TO NUMBERS

“Numbers constitute the only universal language.” – Nathanael West 

Mathematics is the study of numbers or the science of numbers. During the time of the Egyptians and the Babylonians, mathematics was arithmetic. During the time of the Greeks, mathematics was geometry and became the study of numbers and shapes. In 17^th century Europe, mathematics became the study of numbers, shapes, motion, change and space. In 18^th century, mathematics became a tool for other studies; it was not only a science but also a method. Mathematics didn’t rely on the concept of what was studied but on how it was studied. It was then realized that mathematics was a language in its own right. It was a form of communication based on logic and the combinations of symbols to understand the universe. This must first be understood before establishing mathematics as a universal language. To do this we must first understand the symbols in mathematics starting with the most important ones, the numbers.

We started this class with the topic of number systems. I learned about the number systems with different bases. One of them was the decimal number system which is base 10. This is also called the Hindu-Arabic number system and requires 10 different numerals and the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. It also uses a decimal point to denote decimal fractions and numbers take different place values depending on their positions. Another system was the binary number system which is base 2. It uses the powers of 2 and uses only the digits 0 and 1. There was also the octal number system which is base 8 and uses only the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. And lastly, we have the hexadecimal number system which is base 16 and uses the digits from 0 to 15 but the digits from 10 to 15 are represented by the letters A to F respectively. We also learned how to convert from one base to another. Then we learned about the different number systems of the world. One of which was the Egyptian number system. This system is base 10 and is composed of hieroglyphs or pictorial signs to represent the numbers. This hieroglyphic numeration is a form of concrete counting through the use of material objects and to represent a number, the sign for each decimal order was repeated. They also have an Egyptian unit fraction with the mouth as a symbol for a part of a fraction. Another was the Babylonian number system which is base 60 and uses two symbols, one symbol for the number 1 and one symbol for the number 10. This is repeated as much as necessary to represent the given number. There was also the Chinese numeration system which has Chinese characters that correspond to the numbers 0 to 10, 100, 1000 and 10 000. Another was the Roman numeration system which uses different letters and combination of letters to represent numbers. And lastly, we learned about the Mayan numeration system which is base 20. This system used a combination of two symbols; a dot (.) to represent the units 1 to 4 and a dash (-) to represent 5. They also use a shell to represent the number 0 and they write their numbers vertically. 

I learned that we take the numbers we have now for granted. We don’t appreciate the genius behind them. We have reached so far in the field of mathematics. With the new theories, formulas and methods to new branches of mathematics, we have forgotten the very thing that began this whole endeavor: the numbers, themselves. They are the first symbols in mathematics. Mathematics began as an arithmetic method, a way to count the things around us. To further understand and appreciate the side of mathematics we see today, we must first go back to its beginning; to the very thing that made it universal. Numbers are all around us, all around the globe. It is not limited to one race or culture as each and every culture has a number system. Though they take on new forms and appearances, in the end, they hold the same concept of numbers. Just like how words mean the same thing but just said in different ways. The numbers are the first sign of mathematics being a language, not just a language but a universal language. Numbers; numbers were the starting point for the later developments of mathematics.