BEYOND ROMAN: A JOURNEY THROUGH GREEK, HEBREW, AND ARABIC ALPHABETIC NUMBERING SYSTEMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30938/bocehm.v12i34.14101Keywords:
Ancient numerical systems, alphabetic numerationAbstract
The Roman numeral system, taught in elementary school, is part of a global mathematical practice where letters represent numerical values. This text introduces, with a focus on the Greek alphabet, how various cultures throughout history developed similar systems using their own alphabets: the Greek acrophonic system, which evolved into a sophisticated method of numerical representation. Also mentioned are the Hebrew Gematria, with its cultural and religious implications, and the Abjad system of the ancient Arabs. Each of these systems reflects not only practical representation and calculation needs but also unique cultural aspects, offering a fascinating insight into the diversity of human mathematical thinking and the intersection between language, culture, and mathematics throughout time.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Bruna Raeder Alves da Silva, Humberto José Bortolossi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
