Unlock the secrets of ancient Mesoamerican mathematics with our free Mayan Numerals Converter. Easily transform any modern decimal number into its corresponding Mayan numeral representation, utilizing dots (ones), bars (fives), and the distinctive zero symbol. Explore this fascinating base-20 system and its historical significance for timekeeping and commerce.
Formula:
The Mayan numeral system is a positional, vigesimal (base-20) system, although with a unique modification for its third position (x18, tying into the 360-day calendar year). Numbers are written vertically, with higher place values at the top.
The standard place values, from bottom (units) upwards, are:
- Level 1 (Units): 1
- Level 2 (Twenties): 20 (1 × 20)
- Level 3 (Three-hundred-sixties): 360 (20 × 18)
- Level 4 (Seven-thousand-two-hundreds): 7,200 (360 × 20)
- Level 5 (One-hundred-forty-four-thousands): 144,000 (7,200 × 20)
- ...and so on, consistently multiplying by 20 for subsequent levels after the 360s.
Each level's digit (0-19) is represented using a combination of dots (• for 1), bars (― for 5), and a shell-like symbol (○ for 0).