• frezik@midwest.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    27
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    6 months ago

    Common denominators. You can divide base 12 into half, thirds, fourths, and sixths and still use integers. I find thirds to be particularly useful, so base 16 is out. Base 60 can do it, but that’s getting unweildly.

    • Aceticon@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      6 months ago

      There are no common denominators in base 12 that you can’t use in base 84, and the latter also has 7 as a common denominator.

      I, for one, vote for changing our base to 84.

      • reiseno_@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        18
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        6 months ago

        You can do base 12 on fingers! You count each of the 3 segments on each finger and ignore the thumb (you can use it to keep your place), so you can count up to 12 on just one hand! :)

        • frezik@midwest.social
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          6 months ago

          This is why I’m not totally sold on the idea that we use base 10 because we have 10 fingers. There are a lot of ways to count with your fingers. Plus, there are many cultures throughout human history that use something else. Base 10 in modern times might just be a historical quirk.

          • teft@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            6 months ago

            Some societies used base 27 from counting body parts. Sumeria famously used base 60. It’s why minutes and hours are divided by 60

            • dukatos
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              6 months ago

              I can count to 1023 using both hands but only to 31 using one.

      • Aceticon@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        6 months ago

        Just add left arm, right arm to it or, if you’re a guy nose and dick.

        Certainly, especially the male version, it would make the visual act of counting far more funny to watch.

        I think I’m starting to warm up to the whole base 12 idea…