De Vlieger Argam

> *Not to be confused with Algam.*
>
>

## Argam

The first 132 Argam numerals as in Vinci Firenze Argam 2.0.

**Argam** (AHR-gam, also spelt as **arqam**, singular form: **ragam**/**raqam**) is a numeral set invented and developed by entrepreneur and coder *Michael De Vlieger* to express numbers written in large number bases.

The composition of the Argam numerals are of multiplicative definition; that is, based on its divisors or integer factorization, not by any base-specific reference.

## First 120 Argam

Below lists the first 120 argam numerals, in rows of ten.

## Defining Principles of the Argam Numeral Set

### **Multiplicative definition**

There is no requirement that a numeral evokes some notion of the number it represents, but it is a feature of argam that each numeral (ragam) is defined multiplicatively, so that each numeral is defined and named on account of its composition. The argam began because I didn't want to refer to a numeral by a letter or through decimal conceptualization (or that of any other base). The fact that "thirteen" has nothing to do multiplicatively with three meant that any "threeness" had to be avoided, and an essential "thirteen-ness" had to be created and expressed. It is acceptable for us to perceive the numeral one dozen six with some threefoldness, duality, or ninefoldness, etc. Therefore the numeral that symbolizes eighteen in argam is "dine", short for "dinove" meaning 2 × 9. We write it like a Greek lowercase gamma rotated 180 degrees (). This numeral resembles two nines back to back, their heads merged, and perhaps appears composed of sixes as well. The graphic evocation of these notions is significant. For numerals like the 8th prime, we have more freedom to exercise license. Despite the creative nature of the task of producing new numerals, we want to exercise creative license sparingly so as to get the most mileage out of each innovation and to render the free exercise more predictable. Also, the argam was originally intended (by a 12 year old) to be just an extension of the Hindu Arabic numerals, furnishing numerals that look like they belong with the familiar ten symbols and not letters, etc.

### **Basis of naming primes from chemical elements.**

We name the argam (i.e., assign ism-ar-ragam) from the divisors nearest the square root, that we name in prime power divisors when possible, and we apply power suffixes to attempt to produce algorithmic names as far as it can go, using the IUPAC chemical names that are not the provisional system, i.e., the assigned names as a source for the primes larger than 13. Certain quirks of De Vlieger's youthful naming (i.e., "ell", formerly "dalen" and "thise", formerly "thisen") are retained, including in glyph. The IUPAC chemical name convention is imperfect, but it serves to systematically generate names for primes without my personally selecting, say, famous mathematicians or actuaries (are there famous actuaries) or Fed chiefs ("bernanke" = three dozen eleven!). It avoids any sort of chauvinism except for that of the IUPAC.

### **Names an English proposal.**

Ismarragam only applies to English; someone from other languages would have to produce names for numerals in their language. Despite my knowledge of several languages I really ought not create solutions in, say, Italian (even given fluency). A native speaker is better suited to avoid shady connotations, etc. that I might "step in" given my relative newness to the language. For example, in Cantonese, "ell" would not perhaps be appropriate for eleven; "twive" would not be appropriate for the fifth power of two. These things would need Cantonese-sounding and fitting names. That task is beyond me. Further, the use of IUPAC in, say, Cantonese, is not advisable, the chemical elements perhaps largely Western-named. Some culturally-significant font of many names from the lore of southern China might be more advisable.

### **Graphic evocation of the composition of numerals.**

The forms of the numerals attempt to preserve standards; aside from the digit-ten and the digit-eleven, we attempt to convey the alphanumeric hexadecimal numerals, and for a few following argam, the letters that would be used if that system were to have extended. This is why "tess" (, digit-16) resembles a sort of "g" and "zote" (, digit-17) appear like "h". These forms were established during the proto-argam era where the concept of designing numerals multiplicatively were not well in place. Many numerals are created by the use of "radicals" or numeral-particles akin to the way Chinese characters are sometimes composed. Like Chinese, there is no solid systemic application of radicals; what works is what we go with, admitting creative license, and possible ambiguous or multiply-defined numerals. A numeral like "cadex" (, digit-24) has a glyph that is a "zen" (, digit-12) that is crossed (formerly the doubling particle), but it's ismarragam is "cadex", (from *cat-*, ultimately from *quad-* and *-ex-*, from *sext*, *hex*), as 24 is 4 × 6. Then we know "kinex" must be thirty (*kin* derives from *quint*). Large composite argam can be named ably: "kinexeff" () = 5 × 6 × 7 = 210. It is not a perfect system and there will be a limit to what can be named. However, it would cover the human capability for number bases; thousands of numerals would be difficult for humans to memorize anyway.

### **Concision**

Argam aims to have concise ismarragam. Ismarragam should have minimized syllables, especially for small numerals. For numbers less than or equal to sixty, we'd like two syllables maximum, preferably just one. The sad effect of this is that we get a lot of leetspeak humor from the names of the argam (ismarragam) as they are very brief and often coincide with English words. Of course obscenity has to be avoided, and this sometimes causes one variant to win over another.

### **Ruggedness and Human Writing**

Finally, the numberforms need to be "smoothed" and made rugged through exercise. One needs to be able to write them by hand. This is why people see a variant in "tress" (tri-seven or digit-21) and "octove" (oct-nove or digit-72). What's easier for people to write? And there is some liberty in using one variant or another, as people see fit.

In terms of "Icarine Argam" De Vlieger surmises the essential elements are, in order of their strength:

1. Multiplicative definition, naming, and composition based on prime power decomposition of the digit.
2. The usage of "radicals" or numeral-particles, both verbally and graphically, to communicate qualities intrinsic to the digit; the practice is art akin to the development of Chinese characters.
3. Wholesale preservation of the familiar and ubiquitous Hindu-Arabic numerals and number-names; "argam" is an extension of the Hindu-Arabic system produced organically by our forefathers.
4. Graphic "smoothing" of the numberforms through execution, eliminating unnecessary frills and crowning the stroke easiest to produce by human manual execution. The argam is intended to be written by a human being. A corollary of this is concision in ismarragam.
5. A looseness or freedom to select variants or compose numerals from radicals as seen fit.

## Contents

Due to length, this page has been split into several subpages:

### Numerals

* First 120 Argam: The first 120 numerals (as seen above), each with name and symbol origins.
* First 540 Argam: A reference page for the first 540 numerals.
* Rationale of the Argam numeral set: Discusses the symbology and reasons behind the composition of numerals, and a resource to create numerals based on multiplicative definition.
* List of Argam radicals: The different parts (elements) of the numerals which give the numeral meaning, and the general method of producing numerals by multiplicative definition.
* Alternate numberforms: The full list of alternate argam numberforms for numbers less than 480
* Valerian forms: Dozenalism's variant of Argam, which aims to simplify the current canonical argam, and extend the set to over 5,460 numerals.
* Primes-to-Elements reference: A table for converting prime numbers (up to 647) to chemical elements.

### Numeral Names

* Ismarragam: The names for numerals, and the method of generating names for larger numerals
* List of Argam prefixes and suffixes: A full list of prefixes and suffixes used for generating ismarragam.
* Ismarragam into the Different Languages: Proposed ismarragam for other languages.

### Other

* History of the Argam numeral set: Discusses the history of the numeral set and how it evolved over time
* List of notable Argam work: A full list of notable work on the argam numerals and number bases by De Vlieger and Dozenalism, including some studies on various topics on number theory, the numerals in general and the fonts that were produced.
* Glossary: A full list of terms with explanations.

## External Links

### De Vlieger

* The Book of Numerals (De Vlieger, 2007)
* Current State of the Argam Typeface

### Other

* Argam Converter by Bazinga\_9000
* Argam Calculator by Bazinga\_9000

## References

1. ↑ Michael De Vlieger's Sketch Subject List
2. ↑ The Number Base | Glossary

Pages about Argam numerals

Numeral Sets