Greek Number System

Since Greek mathematicians, Philosophers, and thinkers seem to be one of the most prolific influences on western culture, and specifically the United States, I thought it would be fitting to begin by examining their number system and its roots.

      The Greek number system is largely similar to the Roman and Egyptian number systems. Identical to the Roman Number system because of the inheritance of many Greek ways by the Romans, such as religion, math and science. Similar to the Egyptian number system because of the large amount of trade done in that region during that time. In fact, although many believe that the Greek number system was developed by the Greeks between 475BC and 325BC, there has been some suggestion that in fact the System was adopted and amended by the Greeks after learning it in trade from the Egyptians (http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Counting.htm).

      The Greek number system is a base 10 system, with actually two separate systems for naming and denoting of numbers. The first, using similar names as the second, but instead labeling numbers without symbols, but with the first letter of the name for that number. For example, the number 1 is called "Iota" and denoted by the letter "I". In the second system symbols are designated to represent numbers. For example, in the second system, the number 1 is called "Alpha" and is represented by an "A" or the symbol alpha seen in the first box on the left below.

     The latter system, called the "Ionian System", was used more often and was actually quite advanced and capable of some relatively complex calculations (at least for that time). Larger number were read by adding the value of the hundreds place with the value of the tens place and then with the value of the ones place, just as we do now days. For example, the number 523 is read as (500+20+3). Similarily, Φ+К+γ= ΦКγ. The first symbol in the previous additive equation is "Phi" and represents 5 in the hundreds spot. The second symbol in the sum is "Kappa" which represents 2 in the tens spot. Finally, the last symbol in the sum is "Gamma" which represents 3 in the ones spot. So, all together they represent "PhiKappaGamma" or 523.

     This Greek number system could also express fractions as well. Depending on the context, a sort of apostrophe type symbol following the number expressed a fraction. The apostrophe symbol signaled a 1 over whichever number or numbers was followed by the symbol. The "Ionian System" also allowed for more complex fractions by stating a number with a line over the top, this represented the numerator followed by the denominator which was again represented by an apostrophe symbol that followed the number

(http://www.math.tamu.edu/~dallen/history/gr_count/gr_count.html).