read more
Compare And Contrast Arabic and Sumerian Numeral System
Similarities:
One of the most important similarities of the Arabic and Sumerian numeral system is that they both have a symbol (or number) for 1. This is important because in the sumerian numeral system you see the symbol for one repeated very often. And as you move on to larger numbers the ones build up, and the number of tens stay the same. For instance you see two symbols in the number 25 both meaning ten, accompanied by five one symbols. As you continue this pattern remains the same, the number of one symbols increases.
Differences:
The Arabic numeral system developed the numbers 1-9 and built on top of that by adding the numbers together. The Sumerian numeral system used specific symbols for the numbers we know today. The Sumerian system also used similar symbols to represent similar numbers, so when someone is introduced to a number they are not familiar with they can simply relate that numbers symbol to the symbols they are familiar with. The Sumerian numerical system was based on 60’s, and the Arabic numeral system was based on tens. Another very important difference between the two numeral systems, was that the sumerian numerical system did not have a symbol for zero, as opposed to the Arabic numeral system which did have a number for zero.
Conclusion:
I have come to the conclusion that there are more differences between the two numeral systems than there are similarities. I think that this is because they established there system so far apart in time.