The Base

In mathematics, a base is the number system used to represent numbers. It determines how many unique digits are available and how numbers are constructed. For example, the most common system, decimal, has a base of 10, using digits 0 through 9. Binary, used in computers, has a base of 2, using only 0 and 1. The choice of base affects how numbers are written and understood. Essentially, the base sets the "building blocks" for expressing numerical values in different systems.