Timeline of numerals and arithmetic
When you're learning how to count and do math, you start with the numbers 1, 2, 3, and so on. But people have been using numbers for a lot longer than you or I have been alive!
A really, really long time ago, people didn't have the numbers we use today. Instead, they used things like tally marks (little sticks or lines) to keep track of things. In fact, some people still use tally marks today!
Eventually, people invented symbols to represent numbers. For example, the ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs to represent different amounts. They had a symbol for 1, a symbol for 10, a symbol for 100, and so on.
Over time, people started using the same symbols to represent both numbers and amounts. For example, the symbol "3" could represent the number 3 or the amount of things you have when you count out "1, 2, 3." This made it easier to do math and keep track of things.
The numbers we use today (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) are called Arabic numerals because they were developed in the Middle East. They were actually based on Hindu numerals that were used in India many centuries ago.
Today, we use numerals and arithmetic every day to count things, do math problems, and even tell time on a clock! And who knows? Maybe someday people will come up with even better ways to represent numbers and do math. The possibilities are endless!
A really, really long time ago, people didn't have the numbers we use today. Instead, they used things like tally marks (little sticks or lines) to keep track of things. In fact, some people still use tally marks today!
Eventually, people invented symbols to represent numbers. For example, the ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs to represent different amounts. They had a symbol for 1, a symbol for 10, a symbol for 100, and so on.
Over time, people started using the same symbols to represent both numbers and amounts. For example, the symbol "3" could represent the number 3 or the amount of things you have when you count out "1, 2, 3." This made it easier to do math and keep track of things.
The numbers we use today (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) are called Arabic numerals because they were developed in the Middle East. They were actually based on Hindu numerals that were used in India many centuries ago.
Today, we use numerals and arithmetic every day to count things, do math problems, and even tell time on a clock! And who knows? Maybe someday people will come up with even better ways to represent numbers and do math. The possibilities are endless!
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