How do you write babylonian numbers in standard numerals?

Answer 1

The Babylonians used sexagesimal (base 60) numbers. Thus to convert them to standard numbers:

1. Add up the wedges in each place value to a number in the range 0-59; the usual way to write the numbers is separated by colons, eg 17 : 34 : 55

2. Each place value is 60 times the one to its right. Thus, the easiest way to proceed now is to start at the left hand end place value and a result of zero:

2.1 multiply the result so far by 60

2.2 add the current place value

2.3 if there is a place value to the right, move to it and repeat from step 2.1

2.4 the result is now the Babylonian number in decimal.

eg having converted wedges into 17 : 34 : 55

result = 0

starting with left hand place value:

result = 0 × 60 = 0 + 17 = 17

move to next place value right (34)

result = 17 × 60 + 34 = 1054

move to next place value right (55)

result = 1054 × 60 + 55 = 63295

no more place values to the right, so 17 : 34 : 55 in decimal is 63295.

You may notice that 17:34:55 looks like 17 hours (5pm) 34 minutes 55 seconds - ie a time which is not surprising as we use Babylonian numbers to tell the time! And the decimal version (63295) is the number of seconds since midnight of the time 17:34:55.