What the study found
The study finds that each sexagesimal, or base-60, digit can be uniquely decomposed into three independent coordinates on a discrete 4 × 3 × 5 lattice. The abstract says this structure comes from the factorization 60 = 2² · 3 · 5 and uses the Chinese Remainder Theorem.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that this lattice form can support exact fixed-point arithmetic in base 60. They say it removes a class of rounding errors found in standard decimal and binary positional systems, and they examine its implications for safety-critical computing contexts.
What the researchers tested
The paper analyzes the sexagesimal numeral system as a three-dimensional lattice representation of digits. It examines division by the prime factors 2, 3, and 5 as translations along lattice axes, exact single-digit fractional reciprocals, and the sexagesimal expansion of π.
What worked and what didn't
According to the abstract, division by 2, 3, or 5 can be done exactly and finitely, without iteration and without loss of numerical precision. The reciprocals 1/2, 1/3, and 1/5 have exact single-digit fractional expansions, and π has a structural zero at the fourth fractional digit, with the next nonzero term at 60⁻⁵.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe experimental limitations or empirical testing beyond the mathematical representation itself. It also notes a companion paper on a separate non-abelian structure identified with the icosahedral group A₅.
Key points
- Base-60 digits are described as having a unique 4 × 3 × 5 lattice decomposition.
- The mapping between digit values and lattice coordinates is induced by the Chinese Remainder Theorem.
- Division by 2, 3, and 5 is presented as exact and finite in this representation.
- The reciprocals 1/2, 1/3, and 1/5 are said to have exact single-digit fractional expansions.
- The sexagesimal expansion of π is reported to have a zero at the fourth fractional digit.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Base-60 digits can be mapped to exact prime-factor coordinates
- Authors:
- Moss Eva
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-26
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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