A number system with 60 as its base.
The number system with 60 as its base is currently used only in a few specific fields to measure time, angles and geographic coordinates.
Examples
The units of measure for time are hours, minutes and seconds, in the following relationships:
- 1 hour is equal to 60 minutes or 1 h = 60 min
- 1 minute is equal to 60 seconds or 1 min = 60 s
- 1 hour is equal to (60 × 60) seconds or 1 h = 3600 s
In the sexagesimal system, the units of measure for angles are degrees, minutes and seconds, in the following relationships:
- 1 degree is equal to 60 minutes or 1° = 60′
- 1 minute is equal to 60 seconds or 1′ = 60″
- 1 degree is equal to (60 × 60) seconds or 1° = 3600″