Babylonian Time System: Sexagesimans, Base 60) Numeral System
INTRODUCTION
The Babylonians used a sexagesimal (base 60) numeral system to make astronomical calculations, from which the use of 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour is derived. I will research how the Babylonians used this system to measure time.
I have chosen the topic Babylonian time system as it relates history and math. I find it fascinating how in the past, people had to come up with elaborate theories and intricate systems from scratch, as compared to how modern day mathematicians, scientists, etc. have building blocks of knowledge to assist them. I would like to find out what triggered the ancient mathematicians to make certain choices (i.e. choosing 60 as a base) and how their ideas developed to become what we know today.
Developed around 2000 B.C., Babylonians inherited the sexagesimal system from the …show more content…
Although time may be recorded in seconds for mathematical or scientific calculations, fractions of hours are generally used to convey time as a full rotation of the minute hand on an analog clock signifies one hour. Therefore, although both measures produce the exact same answer, one would probably benefit from using measure 2 to tell time, rather than using measure 1.
CONCLUSION
Despite what many people think, time doesn’t happen to be of base 60 for no particular reason, but simply due to the fact that there is no suitable way to represent hours, minutes and seconds using the decimal numeral system. Not only did the Babylonians discover this, they also developed the use of the positional number system and the concept of place values long before it was implemented in the modern base 10 system.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/numbers/babylon/
•
The Babylonians used a sexagesimal (base 60) numeral system to make astronomical calculations, from which the use of 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour is derived. I will research how the Babylonians used this system to measure time.
I have chosen the topic Babylonian time system as it relates history and math. I find it fascinating how in the past, people had to come up with elaborate theories and intricate systems from scratch, as compared to how modern day mathematicians, scientists, etc. have building blocks of knowledge to assist them. I would like to find out what triggered the ancient mathematicians to make certain choices (i.e. choosing 60 as a base) and how their ideas developed to become what we know today.
Developed around 2000 B.C., Babylonians inherited the sexagesimal system from the …show more content…
Although time may be recorded in seconds for mathematical or scientific calculations, fractions of hours are generally used to convey time as a full rotation of the minute hand on an analog clock signifies one hour. Therefore, although both measures produce the exact same answer, one would probably benefit from using measure 2 to tell time, rather than using measure 1.
CONCLUSION
Despite what many people think, time doesn’t happen to be of base 60 for no particular reason, but simply due to the fact that there is no suitable way to represent hours, minutes and seconds using the decimal numeral system. Not only did the Babylonians discover this, they also developed the use of the positional number system and the concept of place values long before it was implemented in the modern base 10 system.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/numbers/babylon/
•