positional notation
- noun
- /pəˈzɪʃənl noʊˈteɪʃən/
- Specialized
:
notación posicional
- The decimal system is a classic example of positional notation used worldwide.
Examples
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Babylonian mathematicians were among the first to develop a form of positional notation.
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In positional notation, the number 10 represents ten.
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In positional notation, the placement of a digit changes its value exponentially.
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The positional notation is crucial for understanding mathematics.
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The decimal system is a classic example of positional notation used worldwide.
-
In positional notation, the placement of a digit changes its value exponentially.
-
Babylonian mathematicians were among the first to develop a form of positional notation.
Synonyms
A way of writing numbers where each digit's value depends on its place
How Complex
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
6.3
18
3.0
111
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'positional' (dependent on position) modifies 'notation' (a system of symbols), so the phrase denotes a system of symbols whose values depend on their position. This modifier+noun pattern is standard and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Positional notation comes from the simple idea that where a digit sits, its position, decides its 'value'. Imagine a row of boxes where each box is worth ten times the one on its right; moving a digit left makes it worth more. So positional notation is the way of writing numbers where a digit's place changes what it means.