Function of numerals
Numerals represent numbers and describe the term they belong to. This article is going to focus on the two main groups of numerals – the cardinal and ordinal numerals. Additionally, there are other groups like partitive or collective numerals. While cardinal numerals specify the quantity (e.g. 3 valves), ordinal numerals specify the order within a sequential (e.g. the 3rd valve).
The Arabic and Chinese numerical systems in comparison
What nowadays is called the Arabic numerical system was invented by Indian mathematicians and was later adopted by the West. It contains the ten digits (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) and is based on one thousand.
The ten digits seem to be a natural source and come from counting one’s fingers. So the Chinese numerical system also contains the ten digits, but it is based on ten thousand. It is more logical, i.e. all numbers are strictly added ...