Students figure out how the numbers 1 to 100 work in other languages: in Bengali, Urdu, Chinese and Mayan. They are then challenged to develop their own number system and write the numbers 1 to 100 in a chart.
The numbers 1 to 100 are below in four different languages. This challenge is to figure out how the numbers work.
Challenge 1: For each language
1. Work out what the symbols means, and write the numbers: 7, 10, 17, 20, 27, 50, 57, 70, 77 and 97 in that language.
2. Describe how the numbers progress from 1 to 100 on the chart.
3. Describe what is similar and what is different about the numbers in this language to our numbers.
4. Predict how the number 107 or 127 would be written in this language. Then search the internet to find out how accurate your prediction was.
Bengali Numbers 1 to 100
Urdu Numbers 1 to 100
Chinese Numbers 1 to 100
Mayan Numbers 1 to 100
Challenge 2: Design your own numbers 1 to 100
Make up your own number system and write the numbers 1 to 100 in a chart like the ones above.
We would love to see your numbers, and show them to others to see if they can work out how your numbers work. If you would like, please send a photo of your numbers to Ian’s email or post it on Maths Adventures’ Facebook page, if you are old enough or get someone to post it for you.