We count in groups of twelve because it's easier to use a number that has many factors. Think about how we divide things: 12 can be split into 2, 3, 4, or 6 equal parts, that’s more than just 10, which only splits evenly by 2 and 5! That makes counting with 12 really handy for things like sharing food or telling time. People long ago used their fingers and toes to count (that's 10), but the ancient Babylonians used a base-12 system because it made math faster and more useful in daily life.
Examples
- A clock has twelve hours because splitting the day into groups of twelve makes timekeeping simpler.
- There are twelve inches in a foot, that’s why measuring things like tables or rooms is easier this way.
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See also
- Why Do We Count in Twelves?
- How Does 10 - Long Ago and Today Work?
- Why Are There 60 Minutes In An Hour Instead Of 100?
- What are different bases?
- What are bases?