Tuesday, August 27, 2013Warwick
DailyNews
www.warwickdailynews.com.au PAGE 13
A NUMBER system is the set of symbolsused to express quantities as the basisfor counting, determining order, compar-ing amounts, performing calculations,and representing value. You are prob-ably used to seeing and using the 10symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of thebase-10 number system we’ve adopted tocompute and record numbers. But howmuch do you know about the origins ofthe wide range of number systems thatexist all over the world?
Beginning to countThousands of years ago there were nonumbers to represent quantities. Insteadfingers, rocks or sticks were used torepresent numbers. There were noclocks or calendars to help keep track oftime. Instead the sun and moon wereused.There was little need for a numeric
system until groups of people formedclans, villages and settlements andbegan a system of bartering and tradethat led to a need for currency.In early civilisations, paper and pen-
cils were not available to transcribenumbers. Other methods were inventedfor means of communication and teach-ing of numerical systems devised ofsymbols. Babylonians stamped them inclay and the Egyptians painted on pot-tery and cut symbols into stone.
Roman numeralsOne system commonly used today isthe Roman numerical system.
Roman numerals are used in many waysfor instance to represent numbers on aclock face, chapters and pages of books orfor the main divisions of outlines.
Number systemAt school you learn and practise mathe-matical concepts using the numerals 0-9,the digits of the decimal number system.The use of this system is widespread. Infact, most things we do in our lives, likesolving algebra homework and paying forthings, are done with the aid of the decimalnumber system.While we use the decimal number sys-tem in our maths, computers do not. Everycomputer processor is made of millions oftiny switches that can be turned off or on.To perform its computations a computeruses a number system that only has twodigits: the binary number system. Thesedigits (0 and 1) are called bits and cor-respond to the off/on positions of theswitches in the computer processor.Every instruction that a computer exe-cutes is coded in this binary number sys-tem.● The base of any number system is deter-mined by the number of digits in thesystem.
Our ancients used stones, fingers and sticks tocount, then came the more elaborate systems
Number know-howNumber know-how
HAVE you ever come across a word inthe newspaper that you haven’t seenbefore or don’t know what it means?This week’s word is BIPARTISANDefinition: representing,
characterised by, or includingmembers from two parties.
What’s onlineEXTREME READING BOOK GIVEAWAYThanks to publishers Random
House Australia, we have a bundle ofbooks to give away. Send us a photo ofyour class reading their favouritebooks in an unusual setting. Sendyour photos [email protected]. For moreinformation go to NiE online byvisiting your newspaper’s website.
WORDY NEWS
THE Australian Recording IndustryAssociation’s (ARIA) chart waslaunched on July 10 1983, when theKing of Pop Michael Jackson wasruling the world with his albumThriller. This week’s top-10 singles:1. Talk Dirty – Jason Derulo 2. WakeMe Up – Avicii 3. Roar – Kate Perry4. The Love Club – Lorde 5.Counting Stars – One Republic 6.Acapella – Karmin 7. La La La –Naughty Boy 8. Can’t Believe It – FloRida 9. Burn – Ellie Goulding 10.Riptide – Vance Joy
News in the spotlightDISCUSS the following topic and letus know what you think.The Australian Council of LearnedAcademies has released a reportinto international comparisons ofscience, technology, engineeringand mathematics education. Onerecommendation is make mathscompulsory up to Year 12.Professor Russell Tytler fromDeakin University said: “Australiaperforms well on international testsin mathematics and science, but weare slipping down the list and alsodropping in absolute performance.Too many students do not achievemathematics and scientific literacysufficient to participate in work andlife as productive citizens.“Our teachers do well but ... wehave a significant problem withmathematics and science beingtaught by teachers without strongbackgrounds in these subjects. Onein four Year 7 to Year 10 mathsclasses are taught by a teacherwithout any universitymathematics.”
In Your OpinionLET us know what you think. Go toNiE online and take a poll.Do you think maths should becompulsory up to Year 12?
CHECK ITOUT
CHECK ITOUT
In which sport did theAustralians beat New
Zealand to win the OceaniaChampionships 2-0?
1
In which country have morethan 750 people been killed
in violent clashes in the capitalCairo?
2
QuizzicalEach week we willtest your knowledge on
what’s been happening in thenews. The answers to thequestions can be found
on NiE online.
QuizzicalEach week we willtest your knowledge on
what’s been happening in thenews. The answers to thequestions can be found
on NiE online.
NEXTWEEK:
National Parks
NEXTWEEK:
National Parks
DID YOU KNOW?● Numbers should be distinguishedfrom numerals. A numeral is a way toexpress a number, usually in writing. Itis the symbol used to represent anumber.
Which social medianetworking site has come
under fire for allowingcyber-bullying to take place onits website?
3
PHOTO:AAP
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User: gino.sanidad Time: 08-26-2013 11:58 Product: WDN PubDate: 27-08-2013 Zone: All Edition: Main Page: NIE_02 Color: CMYK
