• radix
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    10 months ago

    You’re serious? Why? I’ve genuinely never heard this stance before.

    Is it because they’re powers of two and are therefore easier to halve, quarter, etc. for baking and cooking purposes?

    • joel_feila@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Yeah this is why most old measurement systems used 4 8 12. 4 fingers to a palm, you don’t count the thumb as a finger. Then 4 palms to arm, for a total of 16 fingers. At 12 arms into a bigger unit so you can count the joints on your hand

      • radix
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        10 months ago

        I can’t tell if you’re kidding. How do you keep track of four palms per arm?

        • joel_feila@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          That actually how the Egyptians made their cubits. Tuck your Thumb under you hand and place all four finger at your elbow. You have about 4 palms before you get to your wrist.

          • radix
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            10 months ago

            Interesting. Learned something new today, thanks!