[meteorite-list] term definitions and usage

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:10:49 -0500
Message-ID: <DC87ABFFCE3641B088DD8DDD2F3834A1_at_ATARIENGINE2>

A number of Chinese numeral systems are explained in:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_numerals
from the Shang Dynasty to the present day, some of
them quite fascinating. The Japanese numerals in
writing are entirely based on the Chinese numerals
and the grouping of large numbers follow the Chinese
tradition of grouping by 10,000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_numerals
The 10,000 unit base was also used by the ancient
Greeks. The Greek term survives in English today:
MYRIADS. The Romans of course followed suit. One
interesting consequence of the 10^4 system is the
ability to do quite complex calculations verbally.
This is referred to in the piece on Chinese numerals
and Herodotus' Histories contain many examples
of his calculating "out loud."


Sterling K. Webb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Ross" <doug at dougross.net>
To: "Meteorite List List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 11:16 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] term definitions and usage


> Hi Doug,
>
> I'm not sure about China, but counting large numbers in Japanese is
> indeed based on 10^4 increments:
>
> 1,000 = 1 "sen"
> 10,000 = 1 "mahn"
> 100,000 = 10 "mahn"
> 1,000,000 = 100 "mahn"
> 10,000,000 = 1 "sen mahn"
> 100,000,000 = 1 "oku"
>
> I believe it's similar in some other Asian languages, as well.
>
> - Doug Ross
>
>>
>> Correct me if I'm wrong, but are big Chinese numbers are based on
>> [10^4]^i.
>> Kindest wishes
>> Doug
>
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Received on Tue 26 Jul 2011 02:10:49 AM PDT