Scales of Notation
methods of representing numbers of any magnitude by means of a few symbols. We ordinarily express numbers in terms of the first nine digit symbols and the symbol known as the cipher-i. e., 10 in all. The number "ten" is then represented by 10, a combination of the "one" and cipher symbols, and so on in the familiar manner. Mathematically there is no reason why 10 should be chosen in preference to any other number as the radix of our common scale of notation. Its convenience arises from the way in which it suits our numeration or naming of numbers.