Republic of the Philippines

LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

Tacloban City

Name: Lovely A. Booc

Student number: 1500253

REACTION PAPER IN THE BEGINNINGS

MATH IN THE OLD STONE AGE and NEW STONE AGE

Mathematics during the old stone age and new stone age was used primarily as a
counting system where the prehistoric people used bones, sticks, and stones to write their
number system. The primitive people used mathematics unconsciously in making their tools
and weapons out of stone in terms of size and length. They did not really discover concepts in
mathematics to make their lives easier because they are fighting for their survival, especially
in the paleolithic and Neolithic eras where wild animals are the main predators. They made
tools and weapons for the sole reason of survival and not for excellence.

The need of surviving gave way to the inventions of their sharp and improved tools
during the new stone age. In creating these tools and weapons, urged them to use mathematics
in a primitive way. They seemed to have their own number system which mainly consists of
several lines which we still use in the present time to indicate the number of objects. The
concept of mathematics in this period is very far from our modern concepts, but it became a
foundation for the Babylonians and Egyptians to dig deeper and discover new concepts that
will be helpful to their community.

The early paleolithic people used mathematics in building homes, measuring space, and
keeping track of the seasons and the changes in weather for planting. They carved tally marks
in their cave walls or in bones to represent the passing of time or day. They used clays or stones
to represent big numbers instead of carving several tally marks. Their math concepts may seem
primitive, but it gave rise to the symbols used for numbers.
MATH IN THE BRONZE AGE
 Humans in the bronze age started using bronze and copper in creating their tools which
had better shapes and were more appropriate for their environment. They made axes that were
used for cutting down trees and for building houses. Instead of wearing animal skins as their
clothes, they started weaving their own. They also started farming and living in big
communities. Life in the bronze age indeed improved as new things were discovered.

Mathematics in the bronze age flourished, it was used even more when they started
trading and improving their knowledge in astronomy. They used mathematics to improve their
lives and find easier ways to accomplish tasks. Due to the becoming large population, they
sought to better their harvest yield and so there was irrigation and they produced food more
than they needed. Trade in metals and goods could take place over long distances thanks to
improved sailing skills and early tracks and roads that now carried carts and wagons drawn by
animals. Their navigation skills improved thanks to mathematics which paved the way for
trading and navigating.