Our number system is based on the base. or number, 10, because we have ten counting fingers. After a number exceeds the given available digits, 0-9, we need two cyphers or more to represent it (as in the number "23", which is shorthand for "two tens and one 3")). But this choice of base 10 is purely arbitrary, it is not mathematically correct, it is just our custom.
The Babylonians used a base of 60 (which survives to this day in our degrees-minutes-seconds angular and time measure. The Maya and ancient Celts used their fingers and toes to count, so they had a base 20 system. (This still survives in the French language in the words for their numbers ("quatre-vingt-dix" = four twenties and ten = 90).
Computer architecture makes binary (base 2), octal (base 8) and hexadecimal (base 16), very convenient in certain applications. There is nothing special about base 10, it is simply the system we have all agreed to use; it is purely arbitrary and highly unlikely an extraterrestrial civilization would also have adopted it. If they know enough English to deduce we use base 10, then they could have just left us a message in script.
Off Topic » in reply to re: math as art
Bases
The whole thread (61 posts)
- Most complex crop circle ever discovered in British fields
- COOL New Circle
- Don't the farmers get pissed?
- Progression
- Why "a seminal event?"
- Well, maybe it boggles some minds
- 8 segments doesn't work for our base 10 number system though.
- Sure it does. This isn't numbers, it's graphics.
- It's just for a freehand doodler to divide a circle in eight segments than ten. Try it.
- re: It's just for a freehand doodler to divide a circle in eight segments than ten. Try it.
- It's just for a freehand doodler to divide a circle in eight segments than ten. Try it.
- Humans?
- Woudl aliens have 10 fingers and toes? Or even fingers and toes?
- Sure it does. This isn't numbers, it's graphics.
- 8 segments doesn't work for our base 10 number system though.
- Why do you suppose they are getting more complex? (n/t)
- re: Why do you suppose they are getting more complex?
- Not complex, just irrational.
- They're just getting better at making them.