Usage
Many languages use quinary number systems, including Gumatj, Nunggubuyu, Kuurn Kopan Noot and Saraveca. Of these, Gumatj is the only true "5–25" language known, in which 25 is the higher group of 5. The Gumatj numerals are shown below:
| Number | Base 5 | Numeral |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | wanggany |
| 2 | 2 | marrma |
| 3 | 3 | lurrkun |
| 4 | 4 | dambumiriw |
| 5 | 10 | wanggany rulu |
| 10 | 20 | marrma rulu |
| 15 | 30 | lurrkun rulu |
| 20 | 40 | dambumiriw rulu |
| 25 | 100 | dambumirri rulu |
| 50 | 200 | marrma dambumirri rulu |
| 75 | 300 | lurrkun dambumirri rulu |
| 100 | 400 | dambumiriw dambumirri rulu |
| 125 | 1000 | dambumirri dambumirri rulu |
| 625 | 10000 | dambumirri dambumirri dambumirri rulu |
A decimal system with 5 as a sub-base is called biquinary, and is found in Wolof and Khmer. A vigesimal system with 5 as a sub-base is found in Nahuatl and the Maya numerals.
Roman numerals are a biquinary system. The numbers 1, 5, 10, and 50 are written as I, V, X, and L respectively. Eight is VIII and seventy is LXX.
The Chinese and Japanese versions of the abacus use a biquinary system to simulate a decimal system for ease of calculation.
Urnfield culture numerals and some tally mark systems are also biquinary.
Units of currencies are commonly partially or wholly biquinary.
In the video game Riven and subsequent games of the Myst franchise, the D'ni language uses a quinvigesimal numeral system, in which two sub-bases of 5, with one being a multiplier of the other, are used.
Read more about this topic: Quinary
Famous quotes containing the word usage:
“...Often the accurate answer to a usage question begins, “It depends.” And what it depends on most often is where you are, who you are, who your listeners or readers are, and what your purpose in speaking or writing is.”
—Kenneth G. Wilson (b. 1923)
“Pythagoras, Locke, Socrates—but pages
Might be filled up, as vainly as before,
With the sad usage of all sorts of sages,
Who in his life-time, each was deemed a bore!
The loftiest minds outrun their tardy ages.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“Girls who put out are tramps. Girls who don’t are ladies. This is, however, a rather archaic usage of the word. Should one of you boys happen upon a girl who doesn’t put out, do not jump to the conclusion that you have found a lady. What you have probably found is a lesbian.”
—Fran Lebowitz (b. 1951)