Figure it out - Page 60, 61
Last updated at November 19, 2025 by Teachoo
Transcript
Question 1 A group of indigenous people in a Pacific island use different sequences of number names to count different objects. Why do you think they do this?In very early human history, numbers were not thought of as "abstract" concepts (like the number 5 floating in the air). Instead, numbers were always attached to specific things (like "5 fish" or "5 coconuts"). The people on the Pacific island likely used different counting systems because the objects were grouped differently in real life. Example: You might count coconuts in pairs (groups of 2) because you carry one in each hand. But you might count fish one by one Reason: They didn't yet have a need for a "universal" number system that applied to everything. The counting method was designed to match the specific job they were doing (farming, fishing, etc.).