Babylonians developed a base sixty numeration system. The basic symbols for 1 through 59 were additivley formed by repeating symbols. So base 60 means that the place values go 1, 60, 60 squared, 60 cubed etc. versus what we do now which is base 10. Their basic symols had different values depending on the position or location of the symbol. For example if we had 130 it would be 2(60) +10. Because the “tens” spot really represents the 60 squared.
A few more examples using ? representing 1 and > representing for 10.
??>>
This number would be 22
?? ?> >>>
22(60 squared) + 12(60) + 3
This number would be 79,923
(Side note) I just wanted to let you know these are not the real Babylonian symbols. Thank you.
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