sesenta

Sesenta is the Spanish cardinal numeral that denotes the integer 60. It is used in counting, dating, ages, quantities, and a variety of measurements in everyday language.

Etymology and form: Sesenta derives from Latin sexaginta, passing through Old Spanish. The word is the standard modern form for sixty in Spanish, and its related ordinal is sexagésimo.

Numeral representation and properties: In Roman numerals, sesenta is written as LX. The number 60 is composite, with prime factorization 2^2 × 3 × 5. It is a common base in historical and mathematical contexts, reflected in various cultural systems and notations.

Time, angles and the sexagesimal system: The number 60 is central to the sexagesimal system, originated by ancient Mesopotamian traditions and later adopted in various fields. A circle is divided into 360 degrees, with 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute, making 60 a fundamental unit in timekeeping and angular measurement. This legacy also appears in clocks, calendars, and navigation.

Usage and examples: Sesenta appears in phrases such as sesenta años (sixty years) or sesenta minutos (sixty minutes). It also serves as a milestone marker in age or duration, similar to other cultures that reference the number 60 in time and measurement contexts.

See also: cardinal numbers, sexagesimal system, LX.