The number 20 was expressed in two different ways: (1) By the sign shown in
figure 45; and (2) by the numeral 0 in the bottom place and the numeral 1
in the next place above it, as in figure 63, a. The first of these had only
a very restricted use in connection with the tonalamatl, wherein numeration
by position was impossible, and therefore a special character for 20 (see
fig. 45) was necessary. See Chapter VI.
The numbers from 21 to 359, inclusive, involved the use of two places--the
kin place and the uinal place--which, according to Table VIII, we saw had
numerical values of 1 and 20, respectively. For example, the number 37 was
expressed as shown in figure 63, b. The 17 in the kin place has a value of
17 (17 × 1) and the 1 in the uinal, or second, place a value of 20 (1 (the
numeral) × 20 (the fixed numerical value of the second place)). The sum of
these two products equals 37. Again, 300 was written as in figure 63, c.
The 0 in the kin place has the value 0 (0 × 1), and the 15 in the second
place has the value of 300 (15 × 20), and the sum of these products equals
300.
To express the numbers 360 to 7,199, inclusive, three places or terms were
necessary--kins, uinals, and tuns--of which the last had a numerical value
of 360. (See Table VIII.) For example, the number 360 is shown in figure
63, d. The 0 in the lowest place indicates that 0 kins are involved, the 0
in the second place indicates that 0 uinals or 20's are involved, while the
1 in the third place shows that there is 1 tun, or 360, kins recorded (1
(the numeral) × 360 (the fixed numerical value of the third position)); the
sum of these three products equals 360. Again, the number 7,113 is
expressed as shown in figure 63, e. {131} The 13 in the lowest place equals
13 (13 × 1); the 13 in the second place, 260 (13 × 20); and the 19 in the
third place, 6,840 (19 × 360). The sum of these three products equals 7,113
(13 + 260 + 6,840),
[Illustration: FIG. 63. Examples of the second method of numeration, used
exclusively in the codices.]
The numbers from 7,200 to 143,999, inclusive, involved the use of four
places or terms--kins, uinals, tuns, and katuns--the last of which (the
fourth place) had a numerical value of 7,200. (See Table VIII.) For
example, the number 7,202 is recorded in figure 63, _f_. {132} The 2 in the
first place equals 2 (2×1); the 0 in the second place, 0 (0×20); the 0 in
the third place, 0 (0×360); and the 1 in the fourth place, 7,200 (1×7,200).
The sum of these four products equals 7,202 (2+0+0+7,200). Again, the
number 100,932 is recorded in figure 63, _g_. Here the 12 in the first
place equals 12 (12×1); the 6 in the second place, 120 (6×20); the 0 in the
third place, 0 (0×360); and the 14 in the fourth place, 100,800 (14×7,200).
The sum of these four products equals 100,932 (12+120+0+100,800).
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