The Egyptians invented a decimal system. They used 7 different symbols. 

• 1 was represented by a single stroke.

• 10 was shown by drawing one hobble.

• 100 was shown with a drawing one coil of rope.

• 1,000 was represented by a drawing of one lotus plant. 

• 10,000 was shown as one finger. 

• 100,000 was represented by a drawing of one frog. (A hieroglyphic of six frogs in a row would mean 600,000) 

• 1,000,000 was represented by the figure of a god with raised arms 

Click here to see a picture of these symbols, and to discover how the ancient Egyptians put these symbols together to create really big numbers! 

More Math

Math Cats - The ancient Egyptian way to write fractions 

Ancient Egyptian Math (Flushing Schools)