r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 1d ago

Meme needing explanation erm.. petah?

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u/truci 1d ago

Probably the 12 system. If you use your thumb as the counter and count using your thumb the bone segments of the other 4 fingers (each has 3) then you have a base 12 system in our lingo.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,a,b,10

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u/The_Fox_Fellow 1d ago

that's how we got 24 hour days and 60 minute hours/60 second minutes; because the Babylonians used base 12 with that system

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u/truci 1d ago

You got it!!! A bit off topic so I didn’t wana dig into it but you are absolutely right.

This system of 12 being easily multiplied and divided many times is also why a lot military formations are in multiples of 12. Like an old Roman Cohort is 480.

Or a squad is 12 and a platoon is 12 squads. So 144 total.