Our royal highness from the planet Zercon arrived this week! Her loveliness shared her 3 fingered hands and a new way of counting. Many things that we use are counted in different bases. Our internet system runs on a wonderful mix of bases that begin with base 2. The princess introduced us to Base 6.
Bases simply represent ways of grouping as we count. Centuries ago people probably used their fingers to group as they count. As the “beans” were lined up near their fingers, they found a short-cut way of expressing both handfuls of beans with nothing left over. 10 means both hands with no fingers left over. Therefore, in a six-fingered world, you would count 1,2,3,4,5, and then 10 (think one-zero)…which means both hands with no fingers left over.
We have also discussed the difference between a NUMBER- an amount of something, and a DIGIT- a symbol that represents an amount. Just as different languages have different words for a number ( two= dos), different bases can use different digits for a number.
Check out the section to the lower right to find links to websites that will discuss bases. Why do this???? Mathlady’s intent is to have students rethink the process of place value in a fun new way. We also have many careers…well-paying careers I might add…that do work in other bases!
So live long and proper fellow Zerkonians!!! May the Math Force Be With You.
Mathlady
August 27, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I think that base 6 is really easy, but i have a question. How often will we really use this base i know we don’t see it much now but is it used very much in real life?!?! JAR
Bases are used for time, measurement, medicine, cars, electronics, and even for our license plates! Who knows what career you will be using in the future? Be prepared! Not to mention…isn’t it fun just to know that 4 + 4 is not always 8!!!
Mathlady
August 29, 2009 at 8:28 am
Princess Zerkel is so fun! It’s a bit confusing at first, but once you get it, you want to learn about bases the whole year ,and, it’s amasing how so many things use bases too. I can’t wait to learn more about mathlady, and do more awesome things with her! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed her visit! Good to have you in class>
Mathlady
October 23, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hi this is rocksie kae. I’m here with rosepetal and she told me to comment so I thought I would try it…… I’ll tell you who I am on monday if I remember! P.S. I can only blog when I’m with rosepetal so it wont be very often. Thanks! See ya at school.
October 23, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Hey, Rocksie Kae and I are here together, and we were talking about how great math was this year so I told her she should blog with me! When she comes over, we will most likely be blogging on this page. Look for us! P.S. When you go to my blog make sure that you spell the address “rosepeDal” with a “D” instead of a “T”, because I misspelled it accidentaly and there is another rosepetal. THANKS for everything! And I think your poem is great, and it would be fun to put on Youtube!
October 30, 2009 at 6:51 am
Mathlady, I have been missing you at school to teach us the creative way you do. I feel so sorry for your husband. Tell him to get well soon. See You Soon.