base60

Base60 is a positional numeral system with base 60. In a base-60 system, numbers are represented by digits that range from 0 to 59, with each position corresponding to a power of 60. A two-digit base-60 value d1;d0 equals d1×60 + d0. For example, 1;23 represents 83 in decimal.

Historically, base-60 is also known as sexagesimal and originated in ancient Mesopotamia. The Babylonians used 60 as a practical base for astronomical calculations, and the system influenced later measurements and notation. The base-60 concept persists in modern units rather than as a general arithmetic base.

Modern usage of base-60 concepts is most evident in time and angular measures. Time uses 60 seconds per minute and 60 minutes per hour, while angular measurement uses 60 minutes per degree and 60 seconds per minute. When written in mixed-sexagesimal form, values are often separated by colons or degree/minute/second marks, such as 12:34:56 for time or 10°20′30″ for angles. In pure base-60 arithmetic, a number may be written with semicolon-separated digits like d2;d1;d0, with each di between 0 and 59.

In computing, several base-60 encoding schemes exist that map integers to strings using a 60-character alphabet. These are not standardized, and implementations vary. Base-60 encodings are used for compact identifiers or durations in specialized software, but base-60 is not a universal standard in general-purpose computing.

Overall, base-60 reflects a historical and practical approach to division and measurement, with its most enduring legacy in time and angular notation.