A number system invented by Inuit schoolchildren
I dislike these pseudo-scientific claims about alternative number systems and methods of paper and pencil arithmetic:<p>> Because of the tally-inspired design, arithmetic using the Kaktovik numerals is strikingly visual. Addition, subtraction and even long division become almost geometric. The Hindu-Arabic digits are an awkward system, Bartley says, but “the students found, with their numerals, they could solve problems a better way, a faster way.”<p>I think the students can be praised for having come up with simple to understand and write number system that corresponds to the conventions for counting in Alaskan Inuit language, and it seems appropriate to capture these notations in upcoming Unicode standards.<p>However, spending time learning base 20 arithmetic has obvious disadvantages that the article ignores. The times tables, memorized in grade school and fundamental to paper and pencil calculations, are now four times larger. Base 20 is not a popular notation for numbers. One important advantage of the number system (Hindu-Arabic) that most of the world uses is that most of the world uses it. I grew up with inches and degrees Fahrenheit and had to learn the metric system to pursue my science education. I'm glad I didn't have to learn how to count as well. We shouldn't make it harder for these kids to enjoy the rest of the world's books, journals, and internet resources about math and science.