Mathematics

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http://www.hanksville.net/yucatan/mayamath.html The Mayans devised a counting system that was able to represent very large numbers by using only 3 symbols, a dot, a bar, and a symbol for zero, or completion, usually a shell. The chart above shows the first complete cycle of numbers. Like our numbering system, they used place values to expand this system to allow the expression of very large values. Their system has two significant differences from the system we use: 1) the place values are arranged vertically, and 2) they use a base 20, or vigesimal, system. This means that, instead of the number in the second postion having a value 10 times that of the numeral (as in 11 - 1 × 10 + 1 × 1), in the Mayan system, the number in the second place has a value 20 times the value of the numeral.

Sometimes this number will be expressed in the shorthand 3.10.6.13.17 in writings on the Mayan numeration system, especially when discussing dates that are recorded in stelae or monuments. Using this system for expressing numbers has 2 advantages: 1) large numbers can be easily expressed, so long time periods can be recorded; and 2) simple arithmetic can be easily accomplished, even without the need for literacy among the population. In the marketplace, sticks and pebbles, small bones and cacao beans, or other items readily at hand can be used to express the numbers in the same way that they are expressed on the monuments or in the books of the upper classes.

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Mayan_mathematics.html

http://www.jstor.org/stable/3029437?seq=2&Search=yes&term=mathematics&term=mayan&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26la%3Deng%26wc%3Don%26gw%3Djtx%26jcpsi%3D1%26artsi%3D1%26q0%3Dmayan%26f0%3Dall%26c0%3DAND%26q1%3Dmathematics%26f1%3Dall%26c1%3DAND%26ar%3Don%26sd%3D1950%26ed%3D2009%26jo%3D%26si%3D26%26jtxsi%3D26&item=26&ttl=231&returnArticleService=showArticle&resultsServiceName=doAdvancedResultsFromArticle

Index

• MA 000 - for demo only
• MA141 - Calculus I
• MA241 - Calculus II
• MA242 - Calculus III
• MA225 - Introduction to Advanced Mathematics
• MA341 - Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
• MA405 - Introduction to Linear Algebra
• MA407 - Introduction to Modern Algebra
• MA425 - Introduction to Real Analysis

Library resources

• PAMS reference - A wiki devoted to reference and research help in the physical and mathematical sciences