cuneiform numeral

Cuneiform numerals were a system used in ancient Mesopotamia, particularly by the Babylonians, for writing numbers. This system was impressed onto clay tablets using a stylus, creating wedge-shaped marks.12

The cuneiform numeral system was primarily a simple grouping system, similar to Roman numerals, where symbols were repeated to represent numbers. For instance, they used symbols for one and ten, and their powers, to construct larger numbers.1

A key feature of Babylonian mathematics, including their numeral system, was the use of a base-60, or sexagesimal, system for numbers larger than 60. However, this system initially lacked a consistent symbol for zero, which could lead to ambiguities. Despite this, cuneiform texts show they could solve complex problems, including linear and quadratic equations, often presented in verbal or concrete terms.345