Counting With Base Eight

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Number system has an important factor attached to it.

It is the base of the number.

The base defines the quantity of item (in this case, the counted number) before the sequence repeats.

Take for example, base 8.
The count is: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 ....., 17, 20, 21, 22, 23,.......

The number "8" does not appear in the base 8 number system.

Once the 7 is reached, the next number increments to 10.
That is, the range is from 0 to 7 only.

How about the addition?

Example 1:

05
03 +
----
10
----

Since 5 + 3 exceed the maximum count of 8, the final added answer is 10, the start of next sequence.

Example 2:

14
05 +
----
11
----

It can be seen from the 2 examples above that the second digit in the addition is added with "1" after the first (right-most) digit shoots over "8".

This counting technique is nothing different from our normal base 10 (decimal) method of addition.

Thus, knowing the meaning of the base in the number system helps in proper counting, and includes addition and subtraction with the respective base.

It is nothing complex and abstract. Just counting with the correct quantity of number.

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