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trini
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Ok so i was thinking about it recently, why do we use the decimal system as opposed to other counting systems in math? is there some distinct advantage in using decimal over other systems?
trini said:that's all? that seems quite illogical as there appear to me to be many more irrational decimal numbers than there are in, say, base 6 number systems(senary)
You think we count in base 10 because we are too proud and bloody-headed to change?hamster143 said:... (the use of imperial units like foot and pound in the US and the UK is a good example).
trini said:sorry perhaps i should have said recurring numbers, as for example, 1/3 to base 6 = 0.2
to compare systems, i look at the number of finite vs. infinite answers within a range, so for example, in a case of 1/n, where n is an integer, base 6 carries less infinite answers than base 10 over wide ranges.
Nah. Doesn't support thirds. 12 is divisible by 2,3,4 and 6.DaleSpam said:I vote for hexadecimal! It is so much easier to do a binary search in hexadecimal than decimal and it is more concise than binary or octal.
hamster143 said:Because we have ten fingers.
pzona said:I was reading about the advantages of the base 8 system a few weeks ago, and the book I was reading from mentioned something about some ancient Central American civilization using the base 8 system. The author asked mathematicians about why this might be advantageous, and they gave answers like "8 has more factors than 10," "8 is a power of 2," etc. However, when he asked a group of children, they said that this civilization was just counting the spaces between their fingers; I thought it was pretty interesting.
The decimal system, also known as the base 10 system, is a way of representing numbers using ten digits (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) and place values. This system is used in most modern cultures and is the foundation of arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
The decimal system works by using place values to represent different magnitudes of numbers. Each place value is ten times larger than the one to its right. For example, in the number 123, the "1" represents 100, the "2" represents 20, and the "3" represents 3. This system allows us to easily represent and manipulate large numbers.
The decimal system is used in many real-life applications, such as representing money, measuring distance and weight, and telling time. It is also used in science and engineering to represent precise measurements and calculations.
Understanding the decimal system is important because it is the foundation of our number system and is used in many aspects of our daily lives. It also helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as preparing students for more advanced mathematical concepts.
To improve your understanding of the decimal system, you can practice using it in everyday activities, such as counting money or measuring ingredients for a recipe. You can also seek out additional resources, such as worksheets or online tutorials, to reinforce your understanding of the concept.