Replying to Avatar Joe

Why 10?

0-9 are the 10 numbers that are the building blocks of all numbers. Math, its applications and its usefulness, are built upon these 10 digits.

My best guess is we humans have 10 fingers (digits) and our two hands were likely the first counting tool.

But there is no zeroth finger…so I’m curious how we figured out the most incredible building blocks and enabled the amazing tools and innovations we have today. I think I’ve heard coders say the first in a counting sequence needs to be 0 which may be the “zeroth finger”.

Maybe the thing that first made us human was a need/desire to count anything in the first place. The Big Bang of consciousness, so to speak.

#asknostr

I don’t want to Google this because fuck Google.

Anyways, good morning. Humans are fascinating. I’m behind on yard work.
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Nemo 1y ago

It’s worth considering that base-10 systems are only one of the methods of counting. Base-12, base-60 and others have existed nearly as long if not longer.

Fun fact, base 60 is still very applicable to human anatomy as well. Using your thumb, touch each segment of each finger on the same hand. 3 segments on each of 4 fingers is base 12.

Using your other hand, you can easily keep track of how many times you do this with 1 finger raised.

12 segments 5 times is 60, just using your fingers.

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Joe 1y ago

Not able to zap your reply or from your profile. This is an IOU comment. 🫡

Still using the same individual numbers/symbols just in different ways.

The post-coffee pontification this morning was the realization that the 0-9 of it all makes the different methods possible and usable.