What is Base-12?

Base-12 is a way to count using twelve different symbols instead of ten like we usually do.

Imagine you have a bag of cookies and you always count them in groups of 12, just like how some people use dozens for eggs or donuts. Instead of counting "1, 2, 3..." up to 10, you go all the way to 12 before starting over, kind of like when you finish a pack of crayons and get a new one.

In our usual base-10 system, we count from 0 to 9, then add a new digit for every group of ten. In base-12, we use symbols up to 11 before starting over. That means you might see numbers like 10, 11, and then 12, but here, 10 actually stands for "twelve" in base-10!

Some people think base-12 is easier because 12 has more factors (like 2, 3, 4, and 6), so dividing things up into equal parts is simpler. It's like having a bigger set of building blocks for counting!