THE ORIGINS OF NUMERATION

AND ARITHMETIC

Pamela Leutwyler
Once upon a time, in ancient Greece, there was a
USED CAMEL DEALER.
Each day, he counted his camels.

This was difficult. They would not stand still.

They all looked alike. And sometimes…
It was cold and rainy.
So one day, the used camel dealer got a good idea.
Having just counted, he knew exactly
How many camels were on the lot.

He went into his showroom

Where he built a shallow box on the floor

In which he placed ONE pebble to

represent each camel on his lot.
If he bought 2 camels If 2 camels are born

If he sold 3 camels If 1 camel dies

This system was an improvement over running around in all kinds
Of weather to chase and count the actual camels. But as he
Prospered, the huge pile of pebbles became awkward to count.
This system was an improvement over running around in all kinds
Of weather to chase and count the actual camels. But as he
Prospered, the huge pile of pebbles became awkward to count.

Then he got a really good idea!

The pebbles are temporarily removed

Then partitions are built

The first pile will function just as the original pebble board

One pebble represents one camel

Let’s view the pebble board from the top
3 camels are born
1 camel dies
he sells 1 camel
he buys 5 camels

In this pile 1 pebble represents 1 camel

Instead of allowing the pebbles to pile up, the dealer makes this rule:
When 10 pebbles accumulate in a pile, they are replaced with
1 pebble in the next pile

In this pile 1 pebble represents 1 camel

Instead of allowing the pebbles to pile up, the dealer makes this rule:
When 10 pebbles accumulate in a pile, they are replaced with
1 pebble in the next pile

In this pile 1 pebble represents 10 camels

Instead of allowing the pebbles to pile up, the dealer makes this rule:
When 10 pebbles accumulate in a pile, they are replaced with
1 pebble in the next pile
Ten tens become

1 hundred
How many camels?
This is beginning to look familiar. Representing a camel with a
Pebble was the first level of abstraction. Next, piles of pebbles will
Be replaced with symbols. Then, we do not need pebbles and boards

5 2 3
The laws of arithmetic

arise from this pebble board

 6 5
+ 4 8
Put down 3
6 5
+ 4 8
3
Put down 3 1
Carry 1 6 5
+ 4 8
3
Put down 3 1 1
Carry 1 6 5
Put down 1 + 4 8
Carry 1 1 1 3
 2 5
- 8
 1
Borrow 1 1
2 5
- 8
 1
Borrow 1 1
2 5
- 8
1 7
Why did the used camel dealer choose the number 10 ?

Probably it was because he had 10 fingers.

Our numeration system is called base ten.

If we choose another number – lets say 7 - when we

Make the rule about when to move pebbles, we generate a

BASE SEVEN NUMERATION SYSTEM