Base-ten

/beɪs tɛn/ noun

A positional numeral system that uses ten as its base, meaning each place value represents a power of ten. Also called the decimal system, it uses digits 0 through 9.

From Latin 'basis' meaning 'foundation' and the Old English 'tien' meaning 'ten'. The base-ten system likely developed because humans have ten fingers, making it natural for counting and commerce throughout human history.

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