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Metric is measured in units of 10. All calculations of metrics have to do with some combination of 10. In the old English measurements, the units related to each other in more complex ways, and had no one number to standardize the relationship. Metrics does away with learning complex units by always using some measure of 10.
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DevinProbably because there are 10 digits (8 fingers and 2 thumbs) in total on our hands - the most likely reason we use a place value system based on the number 10.
Metric just uses the place value system of every day use which most [Westerners] learn from a very early age.
If we used a sexagesimal system (based on the number 60) like the Babylonians did (and we still do in expressing time in hours:minutes:seconds, and angles in degrees minutes' seconds'') it would make for some much easier maths as 60 has many more factors than 10 (12 as opposed to 4) in particular the factors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6, except for the need for 60 different symbols for each digit. The old UK pound predecimalisation used to have 12 pence (12d) in one shilling, 5 shillings in one crown (making one crown 60d) and 20 shillings in one pound (making 1 pound 240d); 1 old penny used to weight 1/240 lb = 1 pennyweight (1 dwt) so that £1 in pennies used to weigh 1 lb (= 240 dwt).
The system of counting we use in everyday life is called base ten. This means that we count in tens, we have ten symbols to represent numbers; 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. With these ten symbols we can represent any number. To do this we place the symbols in a certain order, unlike writing words numbers start on the right and move to the left. The first symbol represents units, the numbers zero to nine, if there's a second symbol to the left of this it represents tens, from ten to ninety, a third would be hundreds, then thousands and so on.
The metric system also uses base ten, unlike older systems that use random bases, ie inches use base 12, 12 inches in a foot. Because metric uses the same framework as normal counting it makes the calculations much simpler.
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What number is the international or metric system based on?
ten.
What number is the metric system based on?
The metric system is based on the number 10. This means that all units in the metric system are related to each other by powers of 10, making it easy to convert between different units.
When you convert in the metric system what are you doing to the number?
you are dividing it by ten if you are going up, times it by ten if you are going down.
What number is the metric prefix based on?
The metric system is based upon powers of ten. Metric units are designed to increase or decrease by a factor of ten or by many factors of ten. For example the micrometer is one millionth of a meter, in other words a micrometer is 10-6 meters, which is a difference of six powers of ten.
What is a system of measurement based on ten?
A system of measurement based on ten is known as the metric system. In this system, units are based on powers of ten, making conversions between different units simple and straightforward. The metric system is widely used around the world for its ease of use and consistency.
