Three symbols for everything
According to teaching materials from Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM), Maya numerals use:
- Dot: worth 1.
- Bar: worth 5.
- Zero: typically shown as a shell.
From 1 to 19 you combine dots and bars: 7, for example, is one bar and two dots.
Base twenty
The system was vigesimal: it grouped by twenties rather than tens like ours. Numbers were written in vertical positions: the bottom level counts ones, the next twenties, and so on.
Zero, a big idea
A positional system needs a symbol that says "nothing here." The Maya zero does exactly that: it marks an empty position. It's one of the features historians of mathematics admire most.
A calendar exception
The calendar's Long Count makes an exception to base twenty: 18 twenties make a 360-day tun, close to a year. The Dresden Codex preserves numerical and calendrical tables like these.
Try it
- 12 = two bars and two dots.
- 19 = three bars and four dots.
- 20 = a dot on the second level and a zero on the first.
From Mérida
Archaeological sites such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal have inscriptions with dates and numerals. Mary Tours offers guided trips to Chichén Itzá and a transfer to Uxmal from its office on Calle 61 in Mérida; prices are in the booking section.
| Number | How it's written |
|---|---|
| 1 | One dot |
| 5 | One bar |
| 7 | One bar and two dots |
| 10 | Two bars |
| 19 | Three bars and four dots |
| 20 | A dot above and a zero below |
Fun facts
- The Maya counted in twenties.
- The Maya zero is often drawn as a shell.
- In the calendar, 18 twenties make a 360-day tun.
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Frequently asked questions
What base did the Maya count in?
Base 20, a vigesimal system.
Did the Maya know zero?
Yes, they used a zero symbol in their positional system.
What is a bar worth?
Five.
How do you write 20 in Maya numerals?
A dot on the second level and a zero on the first.
