Writing and Numbers

Writing numerical values may impose upon a numbering system various constraints, embellishments and considerations. The tallying methods of counting would become a bit inefficient if one needed to represent values by drawing tally figures each time a number needed to be writen. Representation of larger groupings would greatly reduce the amount of space taken when writing numbers. Some tallying methods from the Americas that tallied values as knots on ropes did represent larger groupings with different style knots representing different place values. Writing a number as less than a larger grouping may take up less space for example in the Roman numeral system IX represents 9 as one less that ten (X), rather that writing VIIII (V=5 and I=1's).

Below are some exercises in translating different numbering systems to our decimal notation. Active content to be produced by members of the programming class being offerred by Poseidon Software and Invention.

Roman Numeral Converson Utility

Egyption Numbering System Conversion Utility

Back to Number Base

Link to Poseidon Software and Invention Home Page

Last update on 12/04/01