This course will teach you a number of ways to count on your fingers. All but the last one had important application by one or more cultures in history. The last one was discovered thousands of years ago, but had limited scope back then. It is my favorite way to count on my fingers now.
There are clear explanations of each of the steps involved, with pictures of the hands to make them easier to remember and copy. There is also some optional historical background information on these methods.
Count To 10 On Your Fingers (Modern Western Counting)
In modern western society, most people know how to count to 5 on one hand, and how to count to 10 on 2 hands. 1 hand counts to 1 x 5, and 2 hands count to 2 x 5. This is base 10 counting, decimal counting. {when do this, say 1 hand has 5 fingers}
Count To 144 On Your Fingers (Ancient Base 12 Counting)
In ancient western societies, people could count to 12 on one hand, and to 144 on 2 hands. 1 hand counts to 1 dozen, 1 x 12, and 2 hands count to 12 dozen, 12 x 12. This is base 12 counting, duodecimal counting. {when do this, say 1 hand has 12 bones on the 4 fingers, with the thumb used to count the bones}
Count To 60 On Your Fingers (Ancient Chinese Counting)
In ancient China, people would count to 12 on one hand, and to 5 on the other hand. The 2 hands are always used together; neither hand counts alone. The 2 hands count to 12 x 5, or 60. This is base 60 counting, sexagesimal counting. {when do this, say 1 hand counts the 12 bones on the 4 fingers, with the thumb used to count the bones, and the other hand counts the 5 whole fingers. In Chinese thinking, one hand counts the whole fingers, and all of them, and the other hand counts the parts of fingers, but not all (not the thumb).}
Count To 1,023 On Your Fingers (Modern Binary Counting)
In modern society, computers count with each digit on or off. Digit is the Latin word for finger. Each finger counts or it doesn’t. 1 hand counts from 0 through 31. 2 hands count from 0 through 1,023. This is base 2 counting, binary counting. This is how I usually prefer to count, since it is easy and can count much higher than the other ways. {when do this, say the 2 hands have 10 fingers. Each finger is either on or off, raised or lowered. Each finger has a fixed value based on its position, and that value either counts or it doesn’t.}
Maximum Count Using the Hands
| Method | 1 Hand | Both Hands | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 10 | Decimal (Base 10) |
| 2 | 12 | 144 | Duodecimal (Base 12) |
| 3 | 60 | Sexagesimal (Base 60) |
|
| 4 | 31 | 1,023 | Binary (Base 2) |
Before you can begin the course, you must be registered on the site and on the discussion forum: Register Here
Once registered, you can login: Login Here
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Access to this course costs $5.00. Once logged in, you can purchase access to the course at the Payment Portal
There is also a discussion forum, here, where you can discuss with others your experience of this course and read what others have said. {Create forum and change link.}
| Copyright © Dennis Goldwater |