The root of the name Basesixty

Basesixty, also known as sexagesimal, is a numeral system with 60 as its base. This system originated in ancient Mesopotamia, specifically in Babylon, around 3100 BCE. Despite being over 4,000 years old, basesixty has had a lasting impact on modern mathematics and timekeeping.

The Babylonians’ sexagesimal system was inherited and advanced by the Assyrians and Persians, leading to its widespread use in ancient mathematics.

Although the Babylonian system is no longer widely used for everyday arithmetic, its legacy can be seen in the way we measure time: 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour.

Today, basesixty is still used for:

• Measuring time (60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour)

• Surveying and navigation (e.g., 60 degrees in a circle)

• Computer science and programming (e.g., 60-bit integers)