• SparrowRanjitScaur@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    4 months ago

    And 1/3 of 100 is 33.3333333333333. There are strong arguments for a base 12 number system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodecimal), and some folks have already put together a base 12 metric system for it. 10 is really quite arbitrary if you think about it. I mean we only use it because humans have 10 fingers, and it’s only divisible by 5 and 2.

    That said, the best argument for sticking with base 10 metric is that it’s well established. And base 10 time would make things more consistent, even if it has some trade offs.

    • LordGimp@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 months ago

      Ancient central Americans used a base 12 number system and counted on their fingers using finger segments (3 per finger, 4 fingers, 12 segments). Makes fractions way more intuitive