The Fascinating Numerals of the Inupiaq People

🔢The Inupiaq numerals were created by middle school students in 1994 as a counting system for the Inupiaq language. They are based on 20 with a sub base of 5.

🧮Each symbol in the Inupiaq numerals represents a specific value, and there is a clear relationship between the symbols and their meanings.

➕Addition using the Inupiaq numerals is often the same as concatenation, making it incredibly easy and intuitive.

➖Subtraction with the Inupiaq numerals is simply a matter of finding the shape of the subtrahend in the minuend and mentally deleting it.

➗Long division using the Inupiaq numerals is surprisingly straightforward. It's a matter of counting how many times the divisor appears in the dividend.

Who created the Inupiaq numerals?

—The Inupiaq numerals were created by a group of middle school students in 1994.

How are the Inupiaq numerals different from other numeral systems?

—The Inupiaq numerals are based on 20 with a sub base of 5, and each symbol has a clear relationship to its value.

How does addition work with the Inupiaq numerals?

—Addition using the Inupiaq numerals is often the same as concatenation, making it incredibly easy and intuitive.

Is subtraction difficult with the Inupiaq numerals?

—Subtraction with the Inupiaq numerals is simple. It involves finding the shape of the subtrahend in the minuend and mentally deleting it.

How does long division work with the Inupiaq numerals?

—Long division with the Inupiaq numerals is surprisingly straightforward. It's a matter of counting how many times the divisor appears in the dividend.

00:00In 1994, a group of middle school students created the Inupiaq numerals as a counting system for the Inupiaq language.

01:09Addition using the Inupiaq numerals is often the same as concatenation, making it incredibly easy and intuitive.

01:59Subtraction with the Inupiaq numerals is simply a matter of finding the shape of the subtrahend in the minuend and mentally deleting it.

02:46Long division using the Inupiaq numerals is surprisingly straightforward. It's a matter of counting how many times the divisor appears in the dividend.

03:48The Inupiaq numerals are a beautiful and elegant way to count, providing a unique and intuitive system for arithmetic.