In order to represent any number higher than 19 we must use a very simple positional system, similar to the one you're now used to. For example, in our decimal system a 1 by itself represents just a one, but if you place a 0 on it's right side then it's worth ten, if you add another zero then it's worth one hundred and so on. This is a positional system too. The difference between the two systems is that in the Maya, the numbers are read from top to bottom instead of from left to right.

Another big difference between the Maya and the decimal systems is that the base for the decimal is the number ten (hence decimal), and for the Maya the base is 20, at first it may seem a little more complicated to multiply a given number by 20 and it's multiples (400, 8000, 160000, etc.), but don't worry, you'll get used to it.

When you see the number 2864, you instinctively multiply the 2 by a thousand because it's in the fourth level, then you multiply the 8 by a hundred because it's in the third level, then the 6 by ten (second level), and the four doesn't get multiplied because it's in the first level, then you add them all up, and you get the number. Of course now you see this procedure as very simple because you're used to it, you don't even think about it when you see a number. Once you get used to the Maya system it'll be the same.

This is how it works: Instead of multiplying the number of the level by ten, you multiply it by 20, so each unity in the second level would be worth 20, and in the third level each unity would be worth 400 (20 times 20) and in the fourth level each would be worth 8,000 (400 times 20), in the fifth 160,000 (8,000 times 20), and so on.

Try reading the Maya number on the left. It's easier if you start from the top, you have a four in the fourth level, so you must multiply it by 8,000, you get 32,000, then you multiply the 17 by 400 and you get 4,800, then 6 times 20 in the second level equals 120, then you add all of the results, plus the 7 on the first level, and that's it! The number is 36,927.

Try writing some Mayan numbers on your own; you can use the table above to see which level to start in. After you write a few you can use the Maya number generator on the right to check your results.

Introduction|The basic symbols|Positional system