7 ms·
Don't you think base 10 was used simply because it conveniently matches the number of fingers of Humans?
by forty 1y ago
Don't you think base 10 was used simply because it conveniently matches the number of fingers of Humans?
- nancyminusone 1y agoOf course... But - look at your open hand right now. Count the number of segments on your 4 fingers - it's 12. You can even use your thumb as a pointer and count one handed.
- tempestn 1y agoOr forget about the thumbs and just count fingers. 8 would be a better base than 10 for sure, and arguably better than 12. (Easier doubling and halving, easier binary conversions, but fewer integer factors and fewer digits.)
- paipa 1y agoBase 6 has six digits, 0 through 5. Perfect fit for the human hand, you get place value notation and counting to 35 decimal (55 seximal) for free. Base 6 would've been the real deal.