I Number System by Inuit School Kids now in Unicode

AI Thread Summary
The Kaktovik numerals, created by Inuit middle school students nearly 30 years ago, represent the first new number system in the Western Hemisphere in over a century. These numerals are designed for rapid visual arithmetic and align with the traditional Inuit oral counting method. Their unique design differs significantly from the decimal system, making them particularly effective for local use. With backing from Silicon Valley, Kaktovik numerals are set to be integrated into digital platforms, enhancing their accessibility. This development marks a significant step in preserving and promoting Inuit culture in the modern digital age.
Tom.G
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
5,661
Reaction score
4,504
TL;DR Summary
The “Kaktovik numerals" is a base 5, 10, 20 number system, and it improved the kids mathematical understanding and computational speed.
In the remote Arctic almost 30 years ago, a group of Inuit middle school students and their teacher invented the Western Hemisphere’s first new number system in more than a century. The “Kaktovik numerals,” named after the Alaskan village where they were created, looked utterly different from decimal system numerals and functioned differently, too. But they were uniquely suited for quick, visual arithmetic using the traditional Inuit oral counting system, and they swiftly spread throughout the region. Now, with support from Silicon Valley, they will soon be available on smartphones and computers—creating a bridge for the Kaktovik numerals to cross into the digital realm.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/...lchildren-will-make-its-silicon-valley-debut/
 
Reply
  • Love
  • Like
Likes SammyS, Hornbein, DrClaude and 1 other person
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Interesting number system. I was surprised to find that they had a symbol for zero, but read that one of the girls in the class came up with the idea for a symbol from her arms raised above her head.
 
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'

Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'

Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
View full post »

Thread 'What Exactly is Dirac’s Delta Function? - Insight'

Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
View full post »
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'

Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'

Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...
View full post »

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top