Problem 2 · 2019 Math Kangaroo
Easy
Number Theory
place-value
The Mayas used points and lines to write numbers. A point stands for 1 and a line stands for 5. Which of the following Maya-numbers stands for 17?
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Answer: D
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Hint 1 of 3
A line is worth 5 and a point is worth 1, so build 17 from those.
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Hint 2 of 3
Use as many 5s (lines) as you can first, then make up the rest with 1s (points).
Still stuck? Show hint 3 →
Hint 3 of 3
Three lines give 15, so you only need 2 more points on top.
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Approach: break 17 into 5s and 1s
- A bar is 5 and a dot is 1, so write 17 with the most bars: 17 = 5 + 5 + 5 + 2.
- That is three bars (15) plus two dots (2).
- The symbol with two dots above three bars is D.
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