Math Primer

This is the “ramp.” The goal is to teach enough math that diagrams and measurements become self-explanatory.

1) Counting

  • Tally marks
  • Grouping (suggest base‑10 or base‑12, but show both)
  • Place value (a symbol for “ten”, “hundred”, etc.)

2) Measurement

  • A unit of length
  • A unit of time
  • Area and volume as repeated measurement

3) Geometry

  • Point, line, angle
  • Triangle basics
  • Right angle and the idea of perpendicular

4) Ratios & fractions

Teach ratio with pictures:

  • half, third, quarter
  • scaling diagrams up/down

5) Coordinates

  • Draw a grid
  • Label axes
  • Show plotting points

Why this matters

Once a reader understands:

  • how to count
  • how to measure
  • how to read a diagram

…you can encode almost anything that fits on a page.

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