History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s10.33

v1.c7.s10.33

**Word Numerals without Place-value.** In the *Veda* we do not find the use of names of things to denote numbers, but we do find instances of numbers denoting things. For instance, in the *Ṛgveda* the number 'twelve' has been used to denote a year² and in the *Atharvaveda* the number 'seven' has been used to denote a group of seven things (the seven seas, etc.).³ There are instances, however, of fractions having been denoted by word symbols, *e.g.*, *kalâ* = 1/16, *kuṣṭha* = 1/12, *śapha* = ¼.