Polymath 443

[mjd]

Hello, do we think that 14a "Number systems with base 8"

O?T?L? is OCTALS?

[sarumite]

Yes ~ see here .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octal

[mjd]

Thank you sarumite,

I think that the question is clumsy as it implies that it is asking for a word that relates to different base 8 number systems & I'm only aware of one. Wheras it is using the word octals as a replacement for "octal numbers"

mjd

[Catron]

How else would you describe the plural of octal, mjd?

[mjd]

I would describe them as octals as I would describe plural decimal numbers as decimals and this refers to many octal numbers.

But the question was:

"Number SYSTEMS with base 8" and I don't know about you but I only know of one base 8 number system.

[Catron]

Sorry but you are not answering my question - how would you describe octals, other than the way in which it is put in this clue?

This is the definition of octal in Chambers:

n a numbering system using a base of eight.

The only way you can describe the plural of octal is to pluralise system in this defintion, isn't it?