Why Do We Use Base 12 in Some Systems?

We use base 12 in some systems because it makes counting and dividing things easier, just like how you might find grouping your toys into sets of 12 helps you share them more fairly.

Imagine you have a bag of 12 cookies, and you want to split them with your best friend. That means each of you gets 6 cookies, no need for extra pieces or arguing over who got more. This is easy because 12 can be divided by many numbers: 2, 3, 4, and 6.

Some people use base 12 in everyday life, like the hours on a clock (there are 12 hours on a face), or how we count inches in a foot (12 inches make a foot). That's why when you measure something, it’s easier to say “3 feet” instead of “36 inches.” Using base 12 helps us group and split things in ways that feel natural, just like how you might choose your favorite number for counting games.