Question

The types of problems found on ancient papyri, books, and tablets focuses primarily on problems that relate to daily life. The solution methods for many ancient cultures are generally verbal, with mathematical statements written out in words. Why did most ancient cultures primarily write out their mathematical texts in words?

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

They had no placeholding zero.

Explanation:

Our numbering system is one of few known to have a numeral for zero. Mayans did; however, theirs never traveled the world. Babylonians were thought to have a mark for nothing, but it was more for punctuation than numerals. Neither the Romans nor the Egyptians had a number for 0 either.

Zero is key to our system of numbering, as it helps us hold place as well as representing nothing. Without it, it is easier to represent problems in words.

Answer 2

Because they had not developed algebraic language, which is the use of letters and symbols to represent quantities and their relation.