this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2023
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Showerthoughts
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60 is useful because it’s easily divided by lots of small numbers, 1,2,3,4,5 and 6, other factors include 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 60. This is why we can split our day so much.
The Babylonians popularised base 60. The origins of which were possibly derived from 2 separate groups in Mesopotamia, that started trade but one used base 12 and one base 5, multiply together to get 60.
You can count to 5 and 12 on one hand easily (12 by using thumb to count each section of your 4 finger). Using both hands you get to 60.
https://mathsciencehistory.com/2021/11/09/count-to-60-with-your-phalanges/
China also has counting to 10 on one hand, theory being you can indicate quantities with one hand full at a market.