• bobbytables@feddit.de
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      7 months ago

      AFAIK the system goes back to the old Babylonians who had a base-60 system subdivided into 5 times 12. 5 times 12 could easily be counted using your thumb to count the 12 knuckles on the other fingers and the 5 fingers of the other hand.

      I mean, how amazing is counting like that! I only learned to count to 10 with my fingers. I love the base-10 for its simplicity but base-60, subbase-12 is the shit :D

      • Emma_Gold_Man@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        7 months ago

        Even easier and more comfortable - count the pads instead of the knuckles. You can count to 12 with one hand, or 144 with two

        • bobbytables@feddit.de
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          7 months ago

          You are right! English is not my first language and I thought I was talking about the pads. My bad! Yours is the best way!