Mathematical Knowledge in Numbering Activities by the Takpala Indigenous Village Community

Source abstract

The counting activities carried out by the Takpala Indigenous Village community represent their way of expressing the quantity of goods, counting days, and other daily activities related to counting. These activities are performed through the use of the Abui language and sticks. The purpose of this study was to describe the mathematical knowledge embedded in the counting activities of the Takpala Indigenous Village community. This research employed an ethnographic approach based on the idea that each region possesses different forms of knowledge according to the needs of its community. The results showed that the use of the Abui language contains mathematical knowledge in the form of base-5 and base-10 number systems with a sub-base-5 structure. In addition, the use of sticks reflects mathematical concepts such as base-10, multiplication by 10, and number operations involving place value concepts.