This bar, , is representative of the number five in Mayan mathematics.   Each dot like the one shown here,, is representative of the number one.  The numbers in Mayan math are written either with the dots on the top of the horizontal lines or to the left of the vertical lines. Shells, , added to the bars and dots explain the concept of zero.  So, in review the three symbols used by the Mayans for math, are the dot, bar and shell.

Let’s try a few math number problems Mayan style.
First:    = 3
Second:  = 9
Third:   = 12

Can you figure out the last one ?

As you can see the Mayan math system might get complicated as you go higher and higher.  For example, trying to represent 100 would mean that there would have to be over twenty bars used.  To solve this problem the Mayan would often use a head symbol representing the moon for the number twenty.  The head symbol was then combined with the normal numerical system of dots, bars and shells.

The Mayans were a remarkable society and fortunately today we can still appreciate them.  Their advancements in math led them to great discoveries in astronomy.  For example, they determined that the orbit of Venus was 584 days long and in reality it is 583.92.  It is amazing to look at a society that was alive so long ago and see how great their mathematical progress and how accurate it was even by today’s standards.

Reference:

Jennifer Rose, 2/26/99