Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India c5.s6.10

c5.s6.10

(b) *Egyptians and the Semitic Groups* : The Egyptians used stone, papyrus, wood and pieces of pottery for writing. They in their Hieroglyphic system of writing possessed separate symbols for one, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand and million. The Hieratic (religious) and Demotic (popular) system of writings had signs of symbols for one, five to ten, twenty, thirty,......to hundred. The Hieroglyphic and Hieratic numbers were commonly written from right to left and also from left to right and sometimes as in early inscriptions from top downwards. The numbers were expressed by repetition and addition of these symbols as necessary. As for example, the number 23 was represented by IIIUU i.e. 1+1+1+10+10=23; this was also written as UUIII. They therefore had little idea of place value.