Working with Base Numbers

Who would have thought Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers would be so different that what I learned in elementary school 35 years ago. I guess this is a sign of the times and the increased level of importance that math plays in our lives. I invite you on this journey with me by following my blog throughout this semester.

Blog Week ONE: Base numbers... what are they and why do they matter?

You may never have given it much thought, but we operate on a decimal system referred to as base-10 system. We use a numbering scheme of  0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. No matter what you do with these numbers, you will always end up with some configuration of them. For example:

1+ 9 = 10

10 is not beyond the base-10 system simply because it runs from 0-9. Rather, we look at is "rolling over" and starting at the beginning 0 and add a one in the tenths place. This cycle continuously repeats itself. This idea has been adopted from Ryan Somma, a software developer who shared his knowledge with the world through his website. Refer to think link below to reach his website:

Why a Base-10 System


A couple interesting facts of a base-10 system:
Consider the metric ruler. A ruler deals only in centimeters and millimeters. A millimeter is 1/10th of a centimeter. This format is used universally.

We have 10 fingers... one for each base!

Learning the base-10 system can sometimes be tricking. I have posted links to two videos I found useful in understanding the concept. Refer to the two videos below: