Question

Write these numbers in Babylonian notation

a-251

b-3022

c-18,741

Answer 1

see the attachments for the cuneiform

Explanation:

You want three numbers written in Babylonian notation:

• 251
• 3022
• 18741

Sexagesimal

The Babylonians used a base-60 (sexagesimal) place value number system. They had no symbol for zero.

Conversion to sexagesimal can be accomplished by repeated division by 60. Each digit (right to left) is the remainder from the division. Using the first number as an example, its sexagesimal digits are ...

251/60 = 4 r 11

4/60 = 0 r 4

In sexagesimal, the number 251 is 4.11.

Similarly, the other numbers are ...

3022 ⇒ 50.22

18,741 ⇒ 5.12.21

The 4th attachment shows use of a calculator's angle conversion function to give the sexagesimal equivalent of the numbers.

Symbols

Each digit is represented by one of 59 different cuneiform symbols. The first three attachments show these numbers written with the appropriate symbols. The last attachment shows a full set.