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[–] 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 child)

We should have 12 digits on our hands instead of 10, because duodecimal is a really cool way to do arithmetic.

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  • [–] 17 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    You can do that already. Who says you have to count on the fingers?

    Some cultures count between the fingers for a natural base 4 or base 8.

    Some have counted between the fingers PLUS the outsides, giving you natural base 6 or base 12.

    Others have counted the segments of the fingers which, at three per finger, gives you a natural base 12 one handed.

    At least one culture counted the segments of the fingers and one past onto where the finger connects to the palm. That's a natural base 16. On one hand.

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  • [–] 9 points 4 months ago

    I'm not positive, but I think I read somewhere, too, that the Sumerians counted some way with both hands that gave them a natural base 60 counting. Which is why Sumerian (and Babylonian, etc.) counting was base 5, base 12, and base 60 all together.

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