When we have evolved to grow a sixth finger on each hand:
we will probably be using base 12, which is divisible by 2,3,4 and 6, but not 5. Using sexagesimal (base 60) eliminates that problem, since 60 = 5*12, but requires way too many symbols to memorize. The French, of course, sell eggs in packages of 10. Paris being the center of the universe (as evidenced by the Eiffel tower), that must make the “French dozen” (two eggs short of an actual dozen, which is sort of like two sandwiches short of a picnic) an S.I. unit. Quartering it (divide by 2 twice) presents a bit of a challenge. But then, you always have to break eggs to make an omelet, so why the fuss?
The French even tried to get people to use “decimal time.”
That would make midday “high five” instead of “high noon,” which would have required Tex Ritter to change the lyrics to his famous. song. Never quite caught on in the U.S. But according to Wackypedia, the Chinese have also been known to use decimal time, so you never know…
American civil engineers use the foot as their standard of length, but go all French by dividing the foot into hundredths. Whereas, American architects and builders also use the foot (same foot, thankfully) but divide the foot into twelve parts, known as inches, before commencing to divide by two, this ending up with 96ths of a foot. 1/8″ = 1/96th of a foot.
American construction documents show elevations in hundredths of a foot on civil drawings, and feet and inches (accurate to 1/8″) on the architectural drawings. Four parts per 100 may be negligible for some purposes, but not for others. A feet-inch calculator is an essential tool for anyone who needs to use both civil and architectural drawings. Let’s hear it for Calculated Industries.
Meanwhile, here in Mickey Mouse world, we have to make do with three fingers and a thumb.
