But why did we pick base 10, was it because we have 10 fingers? That little dude has 3 fingers per hand. Seems like they would end up using base 6 and design a whole system around that, and base 10 would be strange to them.
Mostly because it’s very easy to make calculation on base 10.
If i ask you to tell me how many millimeters are in 5.7 meters you could probably reply easily without a calculator.
You probably wouldn’t do it as easily if it wasn’t base 10
We define 1000 mm as one meter as we are base 10 centric. If we live in a base 8 world, we would have define 8x8x8 mm as one metre and the answer to 5.7 m base 8 would be 5700mm base 8 too
It’s not fundamentally easier to do calculations in base 10. It’s only easier for us because that’s what we learn as children.
If our number system was based on a superior base, like dozenal or senary, we would be able to do calculations on that base easily and would find working in tens awkward.
But why did we pick base 10, was it because we have 10 fingers? That little dude has 3 fingers per hand. Seems like they would end up using base 6 and design a whole system around that, and base 10 would be strange to them.
Mostly because it’s very easy to make calculation on base 10. If i ask you to tell me how many millimeters are in 5.7 meters you could probably reply easily without a calculator. You probably wouldn’t do it as easily if it wasn’t base 10
We define 1000 mm as one meter as we are base 10 centric. If we live in a base 8 world, we would have define 8x8x8 mm as one metre and the answer to 5.7 m base 8 would be 5700mm base 8 too
It’s not fundamentally easier to do calculations in base 10. It’s only easier for us because that’s what we learn as children.
If our number system was based on a superior base, like dozenal or senary, we would be able to do calculations on that base easily and would find working in tens awkward.
Man I love this comic. Glad to see it on Lemmy!