The differences between the ancient Babylonian numeration system and the ancient Egyptian numeration system are:
1. Base: The Babylonian system used a base 60 number system, but the Egyptian system used a base 10 system.
2. Symbols: The Babylonian system used a Y shape to represent the number 1 and an arrow shape to represent the number 10. Egyptian system used more different shapes to represent 1, 10, 100, and so on. The symbols are different for different powers of 10.
Egyptian System:
Affordances:
1. Base 10 system can count with 10 fingers.
2. Changing only the symbols for powers of 10 made it easy to read and understand.
Constraints:
Large numbers may require more time to write down the symbols.
Babylonian System:
Affordances:
Base 60 system has many factors and easy to calculate fractions and divisions.
Constraints:
May be difficult to understand.
Hi Sally, nicely done, here. Also, I appreciated the categorisation symbols/base. I wonder if you might expand on the aspect of difficult to understand. I guess I wonder: if the Babylonian system had continued to be popular and was used in more familiar settings, what specific aspects would make it a challenge, still?
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