The Babylonians counted in base 60 over 4,000 years ago. We still use it in 60 minutes per hour, 60 seconds per minute and 360° in a circle. Each digit was written with just two symbols.
How to use the Babylonian Numbers Calculator
- Number
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How it works
Enter a whole number. The calculator finds the base-60 digits and draws each with ten-wedges and unit-wedges.
Formula
Base 60: n = d₀ + d₁·60 + d₂·60² + …, each digit 1–59 = tens wedges 𒌋 + units wedges 𒁹
Worked example
Inputs — Number: 4000.
Results — Base-60 digits = 1, 6, 40; Cuneiform = 60²: 𒁹 (1)
60¹: 𒁹𒁹𒁹𒁹𒁹𒁹 (6)
60⁰: 𒌋𒌋𒌋𒌋 (40); Check = 1 × 60² + 6 × 60¹ + 40 × 60⁰ = 4000.
Key terms
- Sexagesimal
- Base 60.
Frequently asked questions
Why base 60?
60 has many divisors (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30), which makes fractions easy.
Did the Babylonians have zero?
Late on, a placeholder sign was used inside numbers.
How is 3,600 written?
1 in the 60² place: 1,0,0.
Where do we still see base 60?
Time and angle measurement.