The Mayans used three symbols to make their numerals:
five
one
zero ( a digit)
The symbols and were combined to create the other nineteen digits.

For example:
is the digit for sixteen.
is the digit for three.
The Mayans used more than one place value system. In their commercial system, digits were written in vertical ascending order: ones place, twentys place (20 x 1), four hundreds place (20 x 20), eight thousands place, and so on.

Three examples of Mayan numerals follow.
one x four hundred = 400
one x twenty = 20
one x one = 1
add 400 + 20 + 1 and get 421
five x twenty = 100
zero x one = 0
add 100 + 0, and get 100
five x four hundred = 2000
zero x twenty = 0
thirteen x one = 13
add 2000 + 0 + 13 and get 2013
Try these. What is each Mayan numeral in modern terms?
Return to Early Years Menu