Mayan Numerals

Mayan numbers are a numbering system used by the ancient Mayans of Central and South America. The mathematical peculiarity of Maya numeration is the writing of numbers in base 20 (called vicesimal or vigesimal base) contrary to the writing in base 10 usual nowadays.

In the Maya system, numbers consist of simple glyphs/symbols: the dots . and the - (horizontal) lines. Since they are written in base 20, there are 20 different digits composed of simple glyphs/symbols that can be added: dots . associated to value $ 1 $ (units) and horizontal bars - associated to value $ 5 $.

In the Maya civilization, the writing of numbers is generally vertical (the units are placed under the tens/twenties, under the (four-)hundreds etc.) Beyond 19, base 20 comes into play, and writing requires 2 lines.

Converting Mayan numerals to English/Arabic numerals is made by counting dots and bars symbols on each rows and treat it as base 20 writing, before converting it to base 10.

The dates in Maya are based on the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. They use the kin, which is 1 day, then the winal which is 20 days, the tun, an 18 winal period which is therefore 360 days, about 1 solar year (365.24 days), then the katun (20 tun = 7200 days = about 20 years), then the baktun (20 katun, 144000 days = about 394 years).

Day 0 seems to match August 11, 3114 BC of our era (precision to be relativised with the Gregorian / Julian calendar chosen)

To write a birthdate or anniversary date in a contemporary way, dCode recommends to use the values of the 3 numbers (day, month, year) written in Maya and separated by a dash - or a bar / (slash), the year with the font changed to 360.

The first Mayan numbers are:

0(zero)		1		2		3		4
5		6		7		8		9
10		11		12		13		14
15		16		17		18		19
20		21		22		23		24
40		60		80		100

For other Maya numbers (up to 1000, 10000, 100000, 1000000 etc.), use the form above.

Today, for counting, base 10 is used, up to 9, the 10 digits 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 use only one character/symbol /glyph, beyond 9, it is necessary to use 2 symbols/numbers to write 10 (a 1 and a 0). Similarly, the Mayan numeral uses base 20 to count, so beyond 19 it is necessary to use 2 symbols/glyphs.

It is assumed that men today count in base 10 because they have 10 fingers on their hands. It is likely that the Maya considered a process including the toes, or 20 fingers.

It's mostly unusual and confusing so avoid it. It's a bit like asking the question why not write 10 with a new symbol, like Ɒ, some may understand, some may not.

Maya numeration uses generally stacked lines and dots.

The Mayan civilization lived in Central America around -2000 BC as their pyramids testify.

Although there are similarities, the Mayan civilization is different from the Aztecs or the Incas.

Any reference to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador or Honduras (current areas where the Mayans lived) are clues.