Today I learned

12417 readers

3 users here now

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

sonder@lemmy.ml

You can count past 1,000 on your fingers by using binary, instead of just 10 (www.mathsisfun.com)

submitted 1 week ago by sixty@sh.itjust.works to c/todayilearned@lemmy.ml

3 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/53581499

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/53581443

YSK You can count past 1,000 on your fingers by using binary, instead of just 10

With just one hand, you can count to 31, and with both hands you can reach a whopping 1,023. This is because the placement of the held up fingers matters, rather than the amount.

It can be very useful in everyday use, being able to count to huge numbers when you don't have your phone or pen and paper nearby.

top 3 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] thessnake03@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

Depending on how well you can control your individual joints, could get base 3 or 4 going.

[–] hellfire103@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

Binary instead of unary

[–] chloroken@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I just tried, and counting this way on one's fingers is not very useful because its awkward. Try counting to 32 and tell me if you didn't experience frustration bending your fingers.