• milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee
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    13 days ago

    Cont on finger sections or knuckles, like some cultures do. Gives you 12 on one hand, using the thumb to count.

    Or 16 if you choose your reference points right.

    • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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      13 days ago

      But we still have a number system where 10 is the sum of 5+5.

      I want a number system where 10 is the sum of 6+6, and 12 is the sum of 7+7. A number system with two more single-digit numbers: one representing the sum of 6 and 4 as a single digit; and another representing the sum of 6 and 5. A system where 10*10 is 100, and 100 is the product of 6 * 2 * 6 * 2. A number system where 10 is evenly divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6.

      A metric system developed from that number system would be stunningly gorgeous.

        • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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          12 days ago

          Of course. But I’m saying it in such a way that doesn’t require the use of numbers in a base that is the product of 2 and 5.

          In any given number system, the base of that number system is 10.

      • mitchty@lemmy.sdf.org
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        13 days ago

        I’m curious how you could make that work as it’s a basic contradiction. For 6+6 to equal 10 6 couldn’t equal itself which makes the entire premise invalid.

        If you want more single digit numbers hexadecimal aka base 16 is even better than 12. But I can’t see how 10 can be evenly divided by all of 2,3,4,6 without being a multiple of the set.

        • milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee
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          13 days ago

          I think they just mean base 12. So “10” isn’t ten, it’s 1 * 121 + 0 * 120; xyz is x * 122 + y * 121 + z * 120.

          Like sixteen in hex is 10 (commonly written 0x10, to differentiate it from decimal 10)

          Edit: oof, my client is trying to be clever with the mathematical writing and bungling it, I’ll try to fix… Hmm, hope that makes it better not worse

          • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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            12 days ago

            Exactly. I am trying to describe a duodecimal number system without using a decimal number system. “Ten” is a single-digit number. “Eleven” is a single digit number. “10” is pronounced “Twelve”.