Final answer:
In day-to-day life, people encounter different number systems without always recognizing them such as duodecimal in time measurement, fractions in cooking measurements, hexadecimal in computer programming, non-decimal currency systems, and base-12 in musical notes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A lay person might encounter various number systems in everyday life without necessarily noticing. Here are five instances:
- Time measurement regularly uses a duodecimal (base-12) system, particularly when referring to hours on a clock. For instance, half-past twelve is notated as 12:30, reflecting the use of a 12-hour cycle.
- In cooking, we often use fractions to denote measurements, which diverge from both decimal and binary systems. For example, recipes might call for ½ cup of sugar or ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- Hexadecimal numeral system is frequently used in computer programming, especially for representing memory addresses and color codes in web design.
- Various currency systems can involve base systems other than decimal; for example, some currencies used to or still do involve sub-divisions that are not in powers of 10, such as the old British pounds, shillings, and pence.
- Music involves various non-decimal numbering systems; for instance, a standard octave in Western music is divided into 12 semitones, which is a base-12 system.
These instances highlight the presence and practical use of different numbering systems in common activities.