"Nik": The Mesoamerican Representation of Zero
The Maya zero, "Nik," symbolizes beginning, end, and cyclical time in Maya culture. It holds mathematical and philosophical importance, representing the center between past and future in the Maya worldview.
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The Maya zero, known as "Nik," holds philosophical and mathematical significance in the vigesimal Maya system. Represented by symbols like a flower or a seed, the zero embodies concepts of beginning, end, and cyclical time in Maya culture. The Maya zero is found in ancient inscriptions and artifacts, dating back to 31 BCE. In Maya mathematics, the zero symbolizes the cyclical nature of time, reflecting observations of nature and celestial bodies. The Maya ritual calendar, with 260 days, features symbols representing each day, including the Maya zero as a flower. Today, in the Maya worldview, is represented by Nik, the zero, symbolizing the center between past and future. Maya languages express past and future days using numerical constructs around Nik, illustrating an infinite timeline. The Maya zero encompasses meanings of beginning, end, center, seed, and absence of quantity. This research delves into the cultural and mathematical significance of the Maya zero, shedding light on ancient Maya knowledge and worldview.
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5 commentsThis article showed us none of that. Not even a single image of a zero.
I'll think about this more next week.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero:_The_Biography_of_a_Dange...
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The historical development of the square root of 2 in mathematics is explored, highlighting struggles with irrational numbers by ancient Greeks. Dedekind and Cantor's contributions revolutionized mathematics, enabling a comprehensive understanding of numbers.
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The number e in mathematics, introduced by Euler, has unique properties like transcendence and relation to trigonometric functions. Historical figures like Bürgi, Napier, and Briggs contributed to logarithmic advancements. E's significance lies in its role in exponential and logarithmic functions, crucial in calculus.
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