Basic Mathematical Concept Practiced by Sherpa Community
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Department of Mathematics Education
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.