Basic Mathematical Concept Practiced by Sherpa Community

Abstract

This study focused on the identification of mathematical concept and numeral system practiced by Sherpa community. The design of the study is qualitative nature and the approach of the study is ethnographic. The Soludhudhkunda municipality wads no 1, Solukhumbu district is taken as the field of the research and ten Sherpa people (1 teacher 1student and 8 illiterate people) were selected by the snowball sampling method. This study concerned on the numeral system, measurement system, and geometrical concepts practiced by Sherpa community. The tools adapted for the collection of data are interview, observation and photographs. Sherpa people mostly use their own counting system of Numerations which is practiced from long period of time. Their numeration system is based on 20. They did simple mathematical operations orally but large number of problems could not be solved by illiterate persons. Sherpa people used different measurement system such as bitta, inch and hatt for length measurement, kosh for long distance measurement, tulo for weight measurement etc. On the other hands, they have no any concept of geometry but they prefer to construct and use geometrical objects to make their life easy. Thus, there is the knowledge gap between traditional and modern approach of measurement system and geometrical concept but similar practices are found still among the illiterate groups.