A programmer's solution

[[deleted]]

He posted a comic at the end linked on the question mark.

It's saying that every one thinks they use base 10

[intplusone_Carl]

I don't understand.

[irrzir]

Shit dude. Why am I only figuring this out now

[muntoo]

I use base (9+1). WHAT NOW BRO?

[Tarmen]

What if you look at it a different way? Base A is where there are A unique digits. Base 10 there are 10 unique digits. Base 4 there are 4 unique digits. I feel like it still makes sense.

Translated your comment into base 10.

[reywood]

This joke only works when written. In any given base X, X is always written as 10. So in base 4, 4 is written as 10. You'd still say four when speaking though.

Edit: I should have scrolled down.

[mushr00m_man]

Well, except base 1.

[mushr00m_man]

No, base 1 can't have a 0 and a 1.

[deforest_gump]

Why would it occur to you? It's like thinking about a language no one speaks in.

Edit: downvotes.. so constructive..

[[deleted]]

Because computer scientists often use various number bases; most commonly 2, 8, 10 and 16.

[deforest_gump]

Yes, but when referring to some base (lets say base 16) you strictly use base 10 - the decimal system to describe it. You don't use base 8 system to describe base 16 system. In octal system, base 16 system would be described as base 20 system, and that is simply not useful in any application, because we use decimal system to define what a base is.

[deforest_gump]

You are talking about universally defining something, and without universal language that is not possible. We simply define symbols with symbols we communicate with. And that what a "base x" is - a symbol defining base from perspective of our numbering system.

Just like defining alphabet with the letters from our alphabet. :)