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How numbers are written down does not necessarily correspond to how you do calculations. Given that 499 was called 499 I’m pretty sure they thought in base 10,
by Grustaf 6y ago
How numbers are written down does not necessarily correspond to how you do calculations. Given that 499 was called 499 I’m pretty sure they thought in base 10, so subtracting 1 from 500 would be trivial. Writing it down took a few more symbols but so what?
- shultays 6y agoHmm, I was assuming they didn't have a concept of base 10. If they do have it I wonder how they couldn't make the connection and write stuff in base 10 as well instead of a mixed base with weird rules Then I guess the real challenge is converting numbers around?