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Mayan Numerals Converter is not yet available in Deutsch. Showing the English version below. All formulas and calculations work the same.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 1. August 2026
Mayan Numerals Converter
Ersteller
Dharmendra SinghPrüfer
Ersteller
Dharmendra SinghPrüfer
Quick Answer
This Mayan numerals converter transforms decimal integers into Mayan base-20 digit stacks, or reads Mayan digit values back into decimal, while also showing place values and bar-dot-shell glyph summaries.
Mayan numerals are base twenty, so each digit is weighted by a power of twenty and drawn with dots, bars, or a shell for zero.
Ersteller
Dharmendra SinghPrüfer
Ersteller
Dharmendra SinghPrüfer
Formel
decimalValue = Σ(digit × 20^place)
Wobei:
- d_i=Mayan digit value from 0 to 19
- 20^i=Place value in the base-20 system
- N=Equivalent decimal value
Rechenbeispiele
Convert 42 to Mayan
Write 42 in base 20 as two Mayan digits.
- 142 ÷ 20 = 2 remainder 2.
- 2The top digit is 2 and the bottom digit is 2.
- 3Each digit 2 is shown as two dots.
- 4The Mayan stack is 2 | 2.
Convert zero
Show the shell glyph for zero.
- 1Zero is a valid Mayan numeral.
- 2It uses a single place only.
- 3The glyph is the shell symbol.
- 4Decimal value remains 0.
Read a Mayan stack
Interpret top-to-bottom digits 1, 0, 15.
- 1Place values are 400, 20, and 1.
- 2Compute 1×400 + 0×20 + 15×1.
- 3Add the weighted digits.
- 4The decimal result is 415.
Convert 399
Express 399 just below 20².
- 1399 ÷ 20 = 19 remainder 19.
- 2Both digits are 19.
- 3Each 19 is three bars and four dots.
- 4The stack is 19 | 19.
Einführung
Mayan numerals use a vigesimal, or base-20, place-value system. Each digit runs from 0 to 19 and is traditionally drawn with dots, bars, and a shell symbol for zero. This converter turns decimal values into Mayan digit stacks and interprets Mayan stacks back into decimal form.
Base-20 Basics
Each place in a Mayan numeral represents a power of 20 rather than a power of 10.
Rightmost place counts ones
Next place counts twenties
Then 20², 20³, and so on
Each digit must stay between 0 and 19
Dots, Bars, and Shell
Mayan digits are compact because 1 through 4 use dots, groups of 5 use bars, and zero uses a shell symbol.
Dot = 1
Bar = 5
Shell = 0
19 = three bars plus four dots
Converting Decimal to Mayan
Repeatedly divide the decimal value by 20 and keep the remainders.
The last remainder becomes the bottom digit
Continue until the quotient reaches zero
Reverse the digits for top-to-bottom display
Zero stays as a single shell digit
Converting Mayan to Decimal
Multiply each Mayan digit by its place value and add the results.
Top digit carries the highest place value
Bottom digit is the ones place
Each place value is a power of 20
All digits must be integers from 0 to 19
How to Use the Calculator
Pick a conversion mode, then enter either one decimal integer or a list of Mayan digit values.
Choose toMayan or toDecimal
Use whole numbers only
Separate Mayan digits with commas, spaces, or bars
Read both the numeric result and the glyph summary
Historical Context
The Mayan numeral system is one of the classic positional number systems developed independently in the ancient world.
Used across astronomy and calendrical work
Includes an explicit zero symbol
Efficient for large values
Built around vertical digit stacks
Input Rules
Strict validation keeps the conversion deterministic and easy to verify.
Decimal inputs must be non-negative safe integers
Mayan digits must be 0 to 19
No fractions are accepted
Empty digit stacks are rejected
FAQ
Why are Mayan digits limited to 0 through 19?
Because each position is base 20, every digit must stay within that range.
How is zero shown?
Zero is represented by a shell glyph, which this calculator labels as shell.
What order should I enter Mayan digits in?
Enter them from top to bottom, meaning highest place value first and ones place last.
Can I convert negative numbers?
No. This converter accepts non-negative integers only.
Does the calculator accept fractions?
No. The current implementation works with whole-number place-value conversions only.
What separators can I use for Mayan digit lists?
Commas, spaces, semicolons, and vertical bars are accepted.
Why are glyphs shown as text instead of pictures?
The glyph output stays concise and deterministic by describing each digit with bars, dots, or shell.