I think it was the babylonians who first used base 60, which is how we got hours, minutes and seconds, as well as the 360 points on a compass. Its worked pretty well so far. I found this on a web site as a possible reason for base 60.
"Here is one way that it could have happened. One can count up to 60 using your two hands. On your left hand there are three parts on each of four fingers (excluding the thumb). The parts are divided from each other by the joints in the fingers. Now one can count up to 60 by pointing at one of the twelve parts of the fingers of the left hand with one of the five fingers of the right hand. This gives a way of finger counting up to 60 rather than to 10. Anyone convinced? " Nerd From Hell > -----Original Message----- > From: Nick Lidster [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 7:15 AM > To: Killer Bs Discussion > Subject: Re: Stirling engine queries > > > > > Also, if you look at the tips of your fingers and those knuckles > > closest to the tips, you will see 12 of them on one hand -- so it is > > > > Robert J. Chassell Rattlesnake > Enterprises > > http://www.rattlesnake.com GnuPG Key > ID: 004B4AC8 > > http://www.teak.cc > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > _______________________________________________ > > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > > > > yeh im probley stupid or forgot how to count...... but can > someone please count to 12 using the tips and top knuckels of > one hand, 'cause i only get 10. I can see how one can do it, > exclude teh thumb and the base knuckles, use the tips and the > top 2 knuckles of each finger, again rembering to exclude the > thumb. So as far as my "base 10" counting skills go, it is > impossible to get 12 using 5 fingers, and 2 points of refrence. > > Nick "I cant count" Lidster > _______________________________________________ > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
