ABSTRACT
Examination of mathematical systems across cultures reveals a remarkable diversity. Groups use different symbolic vehicles to represent numerical information and different procedures to organize the mathematical applications of these symbols. The Incas of Peru (1200 A.D.–1540 A.D.), for instance, used collections of cotton knotted cords (“quipu”) to systematically record the numerical contents of their storehouses, census of geographical areas, and quantitative outputs of gold mines (Asher & Asher, 1981). The ancient Babylonians (c. 1750 B.c–538 B.C.) used a base-60 number system to produce complex computations in diverse commercial practices (Menninger, 1969). Today’s traditional Oksapmin of Papua New Guinea use a counting system consisting of 27 body parts to serve such functions as counting valuables, measuring string bags, and tallying bride price payment contributions (Saxe, 1981). Furthermore, we, in Western technological societies, use a number-word system and a number orthography organized in terms of a base-10 structure that is used to serve a wide variety of functions in our technologically complex world.
