sexagesimalbased

Sexagesimalbased refers to numeral systems or measurement schemes that use the sexagesimal, or base-60, structure. In such systems, each position represents a power of 60, and digits in a place range up to 59. This leads to representations that partition values into 60-based units, with calculations often performed by grouping by 60s and their factors.

The term and concept originate in ancient Mesopotamia, where Sumerians and later Babylonians developed and used a sophisticated sexagesimal notation for arithmetic, astronomy, and calendar calculations. The system was influential in ancient astronomy and geometry, and traces of its influence persist in modern timekeeping and angular measurement. The widespread use of 60 as a base reflected practical subdivision of circles and hours, facilitating fractions like 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, and 1/5.

In practice, sexagesimalbased notation is most visible today in two domains: time and angular measurement. Time keeps minutes and seconds as subdivisions of an hour, with 1 hour = 60 minutes and 1 minute = 60 seconds. Angles are divided into degrees, minutes, and seconds, where 1 degree = 60 arcminutes and 1 arcminute = 60 arcseconds. Geographic coordinates commonly use degrees, minutes, and seconds as well. Beyond these, the base-60 system remains a historical and specialized tool in astronomy and navigation, while decimal numeration dominates general counting and computation.