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Base Dozen Forum

A board for discussion of the number twelve as the base of numeration in mathematics and physics.


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» Myon Dozenal Nomenclature
An Ounce of Time EmptySat Feb 17, 2024 3:18 pm by Phaethon

» Information per Area of Numerical Forms
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» Denominational Dozenal Numerals
An Ounce of Time EmptySun Jan 28, 2024 9:25 pm by Phaethon

» Proto-Indo-European Numbers
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» Radix Economy for Alternating Bases
An Ounce of Time EmptySun Dec 24, 2023 5:41 pm by Phaethon

» Graduation Subdivisions
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» Pendulum System
An Ounce of Time EmptySat Oct 07, 2023 9:22 pm by Phaethon

» Colour Classification
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» Unit Power Prefixes
An Ounce of Time EmptyThu Oct 05, 2023 5:29 pm by Phaethon

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    An Ounce of Time

    wendy.krieger
    wendy.krieger


    Posts : 47
    Points : 67
    Join date : 2019-08-07
    Age : 66

    An Ounce of Time Empty An Ounce of Time

    Post by wendy.krieger Wed Aug 14, 2019 5:44 am

    The romans divided their units from the 'as' into a fraction-name which is most familiar with the weight system.  An 'as' of weight is a pound, divided to 12 ounces, each of 8 drachms, of 3 scruples, of 6 siliqia (carats) of 4 grains.  These serve also as ordinary fractions, such that '3 drachms' is 1/32 unit.  The other unit that serves as a fraction is a clove or nail, being a digit of a foot, or 1/16.  One finds 'nail of a yard', and 'nail of a hundredweight', representing the sixteenth part of the yard or hundredweight.

    According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Roman_units_of_measurement , the roman division of the day for astronomical uses, was to 60 minutes, of 60 seconds, of 60 thirds, in the manner of the Sumerians.  But for common purposes, the egyptian hour was used, divided in the style of an 'as' above.  

    If we look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_(time) we see that dividing the hour into 60 minutes is an artefact of the clockface, the twelve hour marks divide the path of the hour-hand into twelve "uncia" or ounces.  The clock in front of me sets the hour hand past '2', and the minute hand is over the '7', so it's 2 hours, 7 ounces in the afternoon.  The ounce of time is divided into smaller units, fifths or what-not.  The people who set the day to make 24 hours of 72 minutes, are dividing the aforementioned ounce into six minutes, while our own system is divided into 5.

    Before this, we note the medaeval division was the day to 24 hours of 4 points of 10 moments of 12 ounces of 47 moments.  The word point is not without significance here either,  Being a sundail unit, it would represent a smallish division of the hour actually inscribed on the face of the dail.  It is related to point of printer's measure, and pint of capacity, as detailed marks.

    It might be noted that 5 as a division here is acceptable, since at this point one would count the marks, rather than successive division.

    Having noted this, while there is a preference for duodecimal divisions of the day (as the romans did sexagesimal divisions, and the decimal facination for decimal division), the time system based on 24 hours of 72 minutes of 72 seconds is not at all absurd in a dozenal context.

      Current date/time is Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:35 pm