This week’s questions comes from the youngest junior scientist in the Science Wows household and he wants to know…
Why do we have five fingers?
As it is National Maths Week Dr. Simple is happy to be talking numbers.
References:
1. Why do most species have five digits on their hands and feet?
2. What if our hands had six fingers?
3. Why do we have ten fingers?
Fascinating! (As all of these Dr. Simple posts are) I love the fact about the10 digit base too. It’s a revelation!!
Sadhbh@WhereWishesComeFrom recently posted…A Taste of What Might Have Been
I thought it was for counting. 🙂 Actually I wonder if in years to come our fingers will modify if technology continues to require us to text or type so regularly instead of manual labour.
tric kearney recently posted…Young Ben we salute you.
Ha good point Tric, they may become very narrow to stop all our texting errors 🙂
nao recently posted…A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we have five fingers?
That’s really interesting – I like the idea that we have a base 10 numerical system for that reason – makes perfect sense!
office mum recently posted…Sleep or lack thereof
Thanks Office Mum, yes it does when it is pointed out alright. Apparently we learn and adapt much better to any system that mimics nature (reference 2 above)