• 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!