NCERT Ganita Prakash, Class 8, textbook pages 61–106 (Part 1)

How to teach Class 8 Maths Chapter 3, A Story of Numbers, at home

History of number systems and place value, taught with things you already have at home: a 30-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.

2026Roman: MMXXVIbase 5: 31101

NCERT Class 8 Maths Chapter 3 A Story of Numbers: what it teaches

How did people count before our digits? Your child explores tally systems, Egyptian and Roman numerals, the Mayan and Babylonian systems, and why the Indian place-value system with zero is so powerful. They also try counting in other bases.

Why it matters later. Understanding place value and bases supports binary in computing and algebra.

See it: this chapter in pictures

base 10: 7base 5: 121 five + 2 ones
Other bases group differently.
XIV + XXIXhard without place value= XLIII (43)
Place value makes arithmetic easy.
2052 hundreds, 0 tens, 5 oneszero holds the place
Zero was India’s great gift.

You need

  • paper and pencil
  • counters
  • a clock or calendar

Tonight’s 30 minutes

  1. Write 2026 in Roman numerals (MMXXVI) and Egyptian symbols.
  2. Try adding in Roman numerals. Why is it hard?
  3. Count in base 5 with counters: group in 5s instead of 10s.
  4. Discuss: what does zero let us do that other systems couldn’t?

Words to use

  • place value
  • base
  • numeral
  • Roman
  • zero
  • symbol

Watch for

  • Thinking Roman numerals use place value. In Roman numerals symbols add or subtract; position doesn’t multiply.
  • Confusing base 5 digits with base 10 values. In base 5, “12” means 1 five and 2 ones = 7.

What it sounds like at home

A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.

YouWhat is 12 in base 5?

Your child1 five and 2 ones: 7.

A game for this week: Code breaker

  1. Write numbers in a made-up base like 4.
  2. The other player decodes to base 10.
  3. Then encode a number back.
  4. Swap roles.

A 5-day plan, 30 minutes a day

  1. Day 1Roman and Egyptian numerals.
  2. Day 2Adding in old systems.
  3. Day 3Counting in base 5.
  4. Day 4The role of zero.
  5. Day 5Code breaker game.

Everyday moments to practise

  • Clock faces with Roman numerals.
  • Binary in computers.
  • Years on buildings.
  • Counting in dozens.

Quick check

Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.

2026 in Roman numerals?

MMXXVI.

What does 12 in base 5 equal in base 10?

7.

Why was zero important?

It holds empty places so place value works.

Ready for the next chapter when your child…

  • Writes numbers in other systems.
  • Explains place value and zero.
  • Converts simple base-5 numbers.

Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Ganita Prakash (Class 8). See the full Class 8 parent guide for every chapter.

Questions parents ask

What is special about the Indian number system?

Ten digits, place value and zero let us write any number.

What is a base?

The group size used in place value: ten for ours.

Do computers use a different base?

Yes, base 2 (binary).