Question

Represent 375 and 4856 in the Babylonian number system

Answer 1

Now what?

Answer 2

@robtobey

Answer 3

Babylonian number system? -.-

Answer 4

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Babylonian_numerals.svg/450px-Babylonian_numerals.svg.png

Answer 5

i am have trouble understanding how to put these numbers together using their base 60

Answer 6

Too bad these aren't just numbers from 1 to 59, or this'd be ridiculously trivial :D

Answer 7

Wait, so we have to draw those sticks or whatever?

Answer 8

Unless LaTeX can provide for them :P

Answer 9

ha, yeah.

Answer 10

guess its positional number system with out 0, with 60 digits/symbols

Answer 11

@zonazoo What are you studying by the way?

Answer 12

So mod 60.

Answer 13

need to account for missing 0 also not sure

Answer 14

Okay, so... it seems this is just... place value system with base 60

Answer 15

http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/numbers/babylon/

Answer 16

Let's start with 375.. how many 60's are in 375?

Answer 17

ok, 6

Answer 18

so... unlike our 'normal' system, where we have a place values as ones, tens, hundreds, etc..
They use a sexagesimal system, they have a ones, 60's, 3600's etc....

Answer 19

So, 375 doesn't reach 3600 yet, so we start counting the number of 60's...

That's 6.

And what remains?

Answer 20

15

Answer 21

@terenzreignz I think the problem is the drawing.

Answer 22

Is it? @zonazoo ?

Answer 23

the difference from 375, or u mean from 3600

Answer 24

@terenzreignz did it correctly.

Answer 25

No, I mean, IS the problem just drawing?

Answer 26

ohh, yes, i dont understand which symbols to use.

Answer 27

@goformit100 I know @terenzreignz is correct.
What I'm saying is, once you get above 9, it's hard to represent other digits. Especially in a case of base 60.

Answer 28

So you'll need to use the diagrams explicitly.

Answer 29

ya that is correct.

Answer 30

Here, a place value table...
\[\large \left.\begin{matrix}\times & \color{red}{60^2}&\color{red}{60^1}&\color{red}{60^0}\\375 &0&6&15 \\4856 &1 & 20 &56 \end{matrix}\right.\]

Answer 31

there is an example that is given, if you look at the link with the chart above, there is a drawing of 4 symbols...

1, 57, 46, 40... and these when placed next to each other some how mean, 424,000

Answer 32

Yes... it basically means....
\[\Large 1\times 60^3 + 57\times60^2 + 46\times60 + 40\times 60\]

Answer 33

okay, i understand your table.

Answer 34

so your saying for 375, i am going to use the 6th and 15th symbol.

Answer 35

flgbrgerelrjernermernxpodrnxe
That's Babylonian for good night fellas.

Answer 36

Whoops, I meant
\[\Large \color{red}{1\times 60^3} + \color{green}{57\times60^2} +\color{blue}{ 46\times60^1} + 40\times 60^0\]

Answer 37

And yes, @zonazoo

Answer 38

okay... lets just make up some random number of 53,849....
I would have to figure out how many times 3600 goes into this just to get the first symbol

Answer 39

Yes... Unless somehow, 216000 also goes in...

Answer 40

But it doesn't...
So... how many times does 3600 go in?

Answer 41

ummm, looks to be like 13 or 14... maybe 15.... im trying to get this in my head.

Answer 42

14. Don't hurt yourself :D

Answer 43

that seems like what would happen when u deal with large numbers, i couldnt imagine putting this much effort into figuring out how to write a number... so okay
14 x 60^2 + 57 x 60^1 + 29

Answer 44

Yup :)
so in babylonian numerals, it'd be
14th symbol, 57th symbol, 29th symbol

:D

Answer 45

We actually use the sexagesimal all the time... literally, when telling time :D
60 seconds, 60 minutes... well, that ends there :P

Answer 46

ha. well thanks for all your help.

Answer 47

No problem... :)