r/mathmemes • u/TheHarcker • Nov 21 '20

All bases are base 10.

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u/ILikeLeptons Nov 21 '20

What about unary, roman numerals, and tic marks? Doesn't the concept of 'base' only really make sense with hindu-arabic style numerals?

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u/eul3rr Nov 21 '20

Can you explain a little please

1

u/ILikeLeptons Nov 21 '20

Let's try counting with tic marks. I, II, III, IIII, IIIII, IIIIII, IIIIIII, IIIIIIII, IIIIIIIIII, IIIIIIIIII. Are any of these numbers 10? At least when I multiply a number by something I call ten, it just gives me the same number back with an extra zero on the end. I don't see the same happening here.

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u/ILikeLeptons Nov 22 '20

I don't think this is a good explanation of why, I just think this is a good counterexample that shows why not

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u/belabacsijolvan Nov 22 '20

The shortest way is the hindu-arabic way. Also mayan and roman is kinda base five, just with composite digits and places changing the digits.