On: Pi is Wrong

[axod]

It's still important for those studying mathematics to realize that things like this are completely arbitrary.

I remember the moment as a kid when I realized that the number 10 wasn't some magical number, but just some arbitrary number we've decided to use as a base. Definitely a stupid choice IMHO, but it's what we're stuck with.

[rbranson → axod]

Base 10 isn't arbitrary. It's believed that it's based on the human condition of having 10 fingers.

[loup-vaillant → rbranson]

And we have 12 non-thumb phalanxes on each hand. Point each phalanx of one hand with your thumb (of the same hand), and you can count up to 12. With 5 fingers on the other hand, you can count 5 dozen: 60.

Base 10 may not be completely arbitrary, but is is undoubtedly lazy.

[axod → rbranson]

8 fingers + 2 thumbs.

It would have actually been more useful to use 8 fingers = octal.

But then who counts with their fingers these days?

[NickPollard → axod]

Count in binary and you can count to 1023 on your hands.

(2^10 - 1 : you have 10 digits on your hands. This also assumes you have a value for 0.)

[Natsu → NickPollard]

When demonstrating that to others, be wary of counting as a demonstration. It might make be memorable, but people can get upset when you get to the number 4.

Sadly, I know this from experience.

[adbge → rbranson]

Base 10 is arbitrary in the sense that it is "based on or determined by individual preference or convenience rather than by necessity or the intrinsic nature of something."

However, if you bother thinking about the word arbitrary too hard (as your comment inspired me to do), you end up in the realm of existentialism and down the proverbial rabbit hole.