Actually can count to 144 or a gross if you use base 12. One hand for the ones place and the other hand for the dozens.
Andy why do we even count the fleshy fingers, when we could be counting the gaps between them?
Each finger is conveniently split into 3 parts. Using 8 fingers we can count to 24 without resorting to any fancy math.
roguetrick@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I’ve always wonder if it was worth the effort of learning base 12 mental arithmetic.
roguetrick@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Depends if you’re a farmer or merchant without access to electronics.
TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
That’s the point most westerners seem to miss. There are so many ways to use fingers to count, while the one common in Europe the simplest one possible. It’s like demo version, while some other countries get the full pro ultra max edition.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 2 months ago
There are so many ways to use fingers to count, while the one common in Europe the simplest one possible
But this isn’t about counting on fingers. It’s about counting fingers. As in, the fingers themselves are what’s being counted when you talk about your “middle finger”.
TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Fair enough. This was an unnecessary side tangent.
spooky2092@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
Just go base 2 and you can count to 31 without using knuckles
Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 2 months ago
True, although I would put binary in the “fancy math” category.
Cethin@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
I wouldn’t. It’s easy, people just haven’t learned it. It takes probably all of a minute to teach someone to count in binary with their fingers.
Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 2 months ago
If they are already familiar with binary, sure.
There are 10 types of people. Those that understand binary and those that don’t.