sexagesimaalisen

Sexagesimaalisen is a Finnish term that refers to the sexagesimal numeral system, also known as the base-60 system. This ancient system of calculation and timekeeping originated with the Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia. It was later adopted by the Babylonians and subsequently influenced Greek and Roman astronomers.

The sexagesimal system is characterized by its use of the number 60 as its base. While we commonly use a decimal (base-10) system in our daily lives, the sexagesimal system is still prevalent in certain contexts, most notably in the measurement of time and angles. For instance, an hour is divided into 60 minutes, and a minute is divided into 60 seconds. Similarly, a circle is divided into 360 degrees, where each degree can be further subdivided into 60 minutes of arc and each minute of arc into 60 seconds of arc.

The reasons for the choice of 60 as a base are not entirely clear but are thought to be due to its large number of divisors, which makes it convenient for division and fractions. Sixty has 12 divisors (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 60), more than any smaller integer. This property would have been highly advantageous for calculations in ancient times. The influence of the sexagesimal system can be seen as a historical legacy that continues to shape how we measure and conceptualize time and space today, even though its numerical representation is not directly apparent in everyday arithmetic.