SOLUTION: if 576+288=842 What base is being used? Thanks Caroline

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Question 5426: if 576+288=842 What base is being used?
Thanks Caroline

Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's try base 12. When you add the last two digits, you add 6+8, which in base 10 you would put down a remainder of 4 and carry a group of 10. In this base, the result of adding 6+8 is a remainder of 2, so you must be carrying a group of 12. That makes it appear to be base 12. Check out the rest of the problem. In the second digit, you are adding 7+8 plus you had 1 carried over, for a total in base 10 of 16. However, in base 12 that would be carrying a group of 12, leaving 4 in the second digit of the answer (which is correct!). Finally add the 5+2 and 1 that was carried for a total of 8, which is also correct.

So this IS base 12.

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