Sexagesimal
Introduction


**Sexagesimal**, also known as **base 60**,Pronounced  and ; see  is a [numeral system](/wiki/Numeral_system "Numeral system") with [sixty](/wiki/60_%28number%29 "60 (number)") as its [base](/wiki/Radix "Radix"). It originated with the ancient [Sumerians](/wiki/Sumer "Sumer") in the 3rd millennium BC, was passed down to the ancient [Babylonians](/wiki/Babylonia "Babylonia"), and is still used—in a modified form—for measuring [time](/wiki/Time "Time"), [angles](/wiki/Angle "Angle"), and [geographic coordinates](/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_system "Geographic coordinate system").

The number 60, a [superior highly composite number](/wiki/Superior_highly_composite_number "Superior highly composite number"), has twelve [divisors](/wiki/Divisor "Divisor"), namely 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 60, of which 2, 3, and 5 are [prime numbers](/wiki/Prime_number "Prime number"). With so many factors, many [fractions](/wiki/Fraction "Fraction") involving sexagesimal numbers are simplified. For example, one hour can be divided evenly into sections of 30 minutes, 20 minutes, 15 minutes, 12 minutes, 10 minutes, 6 minutes, 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, and 1 minute. 60 is the smallest number that is divisible by every number from 1 to 6; that is, it is the [lowest common multiple](/wiki/Lowest_common_multiple "Lowest common multiple") of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6\.

*In this article, all sexagesimal digits are represented as decimal numbers, except where otherwise noted. For example, the largest sexagesimal digit is "59".*


Who used sexagesimal in its original form?