Is the decimal system of numbers inherently superior to other numerical bases??

[Gothgar]

<chanting>Down with pi, up with tau. Down with pi, up with tau. </chanting> Tau is superior to pi.


http://www.jcrows.com/withoutnumbers.html

That blew my mind.

 

[JimmiG]

There's nothing "magical" about base 10. Base 8 or base 5 would work just as well if we learned it from a young age and never learned the decimal system. Hexadecimal is quite convenient when you need to type out large numbers (IPv6 addresses for example).

The concept of different numerical systems isn't very hard to grasp. The problem is that we constantly try to convert everything to decimal in out minds because that's what we're used to dealing with.

 

[silverpig]

Only tenuously related, but your post reminded of this:

Freakonomics - Why are Chinese (and other Asians) Better at Math?

Guess what? 11 is ten-one here too. And 12 is ten-two.

 

[IronWing]

<chanting>Down with pi, up with tau. Down with pi, up with tau. </chanting> Tau is superior to pi.

Happy Martin Buber Day!

Everyday can be a happy Martin Buber day when filled with Pi-Tau relationships!

 

[MotionMan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uJsoZheTR4

MotionMan

 

[ss284]

Guess what? 11 is ten-one here too. And 12 is ten-two.

I think the article is trying to point out that in Chinese, 12 is pronounced and thought of as ten-two, which might make certain mathematical concepts easier to learn.

 

[sootie07]

Actually, look at the link I gave - (or look for other links about the Pirahas) - they had no concept of numbers, thus wouldn't be able to comprehend hexadecimal (let alone the decimal system that researchers attempted to integrate into their lives.)

And, "why should humans 'convert' from our wonderful system?! I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII,... It's pretty natural and easy to understand, so why should we convert over to that arabic decimal system just because it makes sense to those mathematicians?" (Not saying that I think we'd ever convert away from decimal. Hell, the 'tards in the U.S. can't even convert over to the metric system.

Because the practical applications of base 12 make it a lot easier, shop keepers lives would be easier as 12 has way more factors than base 12 comparatively, and base 12 would also be very good because of the months in a year, time (60 is divisible by 12), and many other systems would be so much easier. I'm afraid you my friend have overlooked the power of base 12. \12/

 

[brianmanahan]

dat bump

i agree, base 12 is way better

make it so plz

 

[ringtail]

e is inherently superior from the perspective that it's more descriptive of the natural world.

10 is because humans have 10 fingers & 10 toes, but base 10 isn't very useful in describing the natural world.

 

[Paratus]

How the hell did I already post in this...........


Necro.

 

[OverVolt]

I think I saw on discovery channel or something there was a base 5 system that was actually easier to calculate large numbers in your head.

 

[Craig234]

Next, why 26 letters in the alphabet.

 

[Rakehellion]

What is about decimal numeral system that makes visualizing the units easier than other bases of numbers? Eg. Binary, Hexagonal.

Is this advantage merely one of conditioning or is it inbuilt within our brains?

Because we use a base-10 system of numerals. People who work with computers use base-2.

 

[Train]

Because we use a base-10 system of numerals. People who work with computers use base-2.

hell no they don't. They typically use Hex (Base 16) when not just having the computer convert from Decimal.

Think RGB values as an example, those are hex.

Working in Binary would be a giant pain in the ass.