# Finger counting poll

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finger-counting-poll/115370>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 22, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finger-counting-poll/115370 "2002-06-22T01:45:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![HerMajestyLorna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7cd45c/32.png) [@HerMajestyLorna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HerMajestyLorna)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finger-counting-poll/115370/21 "2002-06-23T20:19:43Z")

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Well, I learned it on there here boards…maybe you once were the only one.

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**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finger-counting-poll/115370/22 "2002-06-23T22:16:15Z")

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I start with the thumb and end with the ring finger. The pinky comes in fourth.

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finger-counting-poll/115370/23 "2002-06-24T15:21:37Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by HerMajestyLorna \*  
> **Well, sometimes I count in binary on my fingers, so that makes it crazy. (Really, I do…)**

Must be that crazy C’ville air, cause I do it too, only I’ve been doing it so long, it’s the only way for me now. I go from thumb to pinkie, with the thumb of my left hand being 1, and the thumb of my right being 32. The only problems I have are with the “unfriendly” numbers: 4, 128, and 132 (those only use middle fingers).

I’ve tried counting in ternary on my fingers, but it’s just too weird.

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**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finger-counting-poll/115370/24 "2002-06-24T16:08:12Z")

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I don’t seem to have any real preference–I use A, B, and C pretty much indiscriminately. However, when I multiply by nine on my fingers, I start with my left pinkie.

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**Author:** ![HerMajestyLorna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7cd45c/32.png) [@HerMajestyLorna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HerMajestyLorna)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finger-counting-poll/115370/25 "2002-06-24T16:27:23Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \*  
> \*\*I’ve tried counting in ternary on my fingers, but it’s just too weird. \*\*

_That_ I would like to see. How high up can you go on your fingers in ternary?

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finger-counting-poll/115370/26 "2002-06-24T16:40:19Z")

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1. Just using my left hand, 242. But it’s too weird–you end up with your fingers down, crooked, and straight, essentially at random. Besides, how often would you need to count that high on your hands?

FWIW, the number system you use to count on your fingers the ordinary way is called “unary”.

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