Did you know? Arabic numerals are not the only symbols used by default around the world. In Cambodia, numbers are displayed in Khmer. Therefore, Cambodians are familiar with two different systems, with Arabic numerals being most often used for English inscriptions.
When I received my first bill in riels (the local currency that co-exists with the U.S. dollar at a rate of 4000 riels to 1 dollar) as change, I was puzzled: a bill for 900? But the loop of the 9 isn't closed correctly... Then I see 100 on the side! What is happening?
I then discover something that I hadn't suspected: not everyone in the world uses just Arabic numerals in daily life (Roman numerals don't count!). So, I present you with a comparison of Khmer numerals to Arabic numerals, and let me tell you, it's not easy to remember!
- 0 = 0
- 1 = 1
- 2 = 2
- 3 = 3
- 4 = 4
- 5 = 5
- 6 = 6
- 7 = 7
- 8 = 8
- 9 = 9
- 10 = 10
- ...
But where it gets even more interesting is that to say 6, they say 5 1, 7 becomes 5 2... all the way to 10 (which is not 5 5). They also have a name for the tens, so 29 becomes 20 5 4. Be careful, it's getting complicated...
In addition, you have to add the names for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, and billions. The number 37,000 (៣៧.០០០) can thus be pronounced as 30 5 2 1,000 or 3 10,000 5 2 1,000, I won't even tell you how much of a headache that is! We continue for those who haven't gotten a migraine yet!
Additionally, numbers are generally arranged in text where all the symbols are as incomprehensible to me as Chinese. Spotting a number thus becomes quite an accomplishment.
Ultimately, as a computer scientist, I think I prefer binary!