Methodological reflections on typologies for numerical notations
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
zbMATH Open document ID: 1252.00002
DOI: 10.1017/S0269889712000038
author: Theodore Reed Widom
author: Dirk Schlimm
published in: Science in Context
publication date: 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 00A05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 97F30
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 01A99
zbMATH DE Number: 6051035
zbMATH Keywords: natural numbers
zbMATH Keywords: notations
zbMATH Keywords: typologies
zbMATH Keywords: classifications
MaRDI profile type: Publication
cites work: Q3717003
cites work: An analysis of nonpositional numeral systems
cites work: Q4488177
cites work: Fundamental Steps in the Development of Numeration
title: Methodological reflections on typologies for numerical notations
review text: The present paper provides a classification scheme or typologies for 100 distinct systems of notations for representing natural numbers. A general framework for assessing the efficacy of these typologies relative to certain desiderata is presented. This framework is used to discuss the two influential typologies of Zhang \& Norman and Chrisomalis. A new typology is presented that takes as its starting point the principles by which numerical notations represent multipliers and bases. It has been shown by different examples that this new typology provides a more refined classification of numerical notations than the ones put forward previously. Many of the world's numerical notations and their analysis in terms of typology discussed in the present paper are presented in the Appendix.
reviewed by: Girish Kumar Ramaiah
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 6051035