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That does not make sense to me, since computers "native" numbers are not binary and the layer on top would not care one bit if it converts the binary representa

That does not make sense to me, since computers "native" numbers are not binary and the layer on top would not care one bit if it converts the binary representation to whatever base. Not to mention that the wide-spread use of the decimal system among humans happened long before computers where even dreamed of. So those things point to the decimal system adoption having been made for humans and not for computers. Countries other than the UK had done that step (for currency) centuries before Britain too. Here is some background: "How Britain converted to decimal currency" -- https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12346083 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12346083 Also, > the benefit wasn't for humans (who prefer working in 12's) I'm not sure what people you know, I don't know anyone who would prefer base 12. That seems like a very bold claim to me - I think I would like to see some evidence for it.

marcus_holmes 6y ago
I have no evidence for any of it except the anecdotal mumblings of an old man ;) Though a lot of different societies came up with 12-based systems, so there might be something to it. It is clear that illiterate people could work in "old money" fine. I suspect this is like the darts players who can do the mental arithmetic involved in a darts match fine, but would consider themselves "bad at maths". It's a learning cliff, but like any learning cliff, it no longer matters once you've climbed it.
tim333 6y ago
It's popular for time. See you in an an hour rather than in 0.041666 days.
- Majestic121 6y ago
  That's a bad example, because you use exactly one hour. If you divide the day in 10, let's call it decile, you would say see you in a decile instead of 2.43 hours. As a side effect, 2.43h is actually 2h and less than 30 minutes and not 2h and 43 minutes (unintuitive), while 0.41 decile would probably be 41 centile, so conversion would be easier.

marcus_holmes 6y ago

I have no evidence for any of it except the anecdotal mumblings of an old man ;) Though a lot of different societies came up with 12-based systems, so there might be something to it. It is clear that illiterate people could work in "old money" fine. I suspect this is like the darts players who can do the mental arithmetic involved in a darts match fine, but would consider themselves "bad at maths". It's a learning cliff, but like any learning cliff, it no longer matters once you've climbed it.

tim333 6y ago

It's popular for time. See you in an an hour rather than in 0.041666 days.

Majestic121 6y ago
That's a bad example, because you use exactly one hour. If you divide the day in 10, let's call it decile, you would say see you in a decile instead of 2.43 hours. As a side effect, 2.43h is actually 2h and less than 30 minutes and not 2h and 43 minutes (unintuitive), while 0.41 decile would probably be 41 centile, so conversion would be easier.