The Hexadecimal Paradox
It is unclear who invented the hexadecimal notation - most likely IBM. The current hexadecimal system was first introduced into the field of computing by IBM in 1963. The following information is very tenuous and not many mathematicians are willing to believe in the authenticity and consider this more like a fake but interesting story. “Hex, short for "hexadecimal base counting", was invented in France in the year 770 AD. In that time Mervin, a famous wizard, became a counselor to King Charlemagne because he had 8 fingers on each hand…” Sixteen fingers all together, really? John Williams Nystrom, a Swedish born American civil engineer, proposed to switch from decimal to hexadecimal as defined in his 1862 publication titled Project of a New System of Arithmetic, Weight, Measure and Coins, proposed to be called the Tonal System, with Sixteen to the Base. In addition to new weights and measures, his proposal included a new calendar with sixteen months, a new system of coinage, and a hexadecimal clock with sixteen hours in a day. The lack of detailed explanation of how base 16 works mathematically diminished his idea of applying hexadecimals to many things resulting in no impact and no change. So the story goes in the end that the computers are actually instrumental in the birth of hexadecimal base system and dominance of practical use propagated its importance. However, we need to be careful when we use the word Hex. It is also a two-player board game played on a hexagonal grid, usually in the shape of an 11 x 11 diamond. It was invented by famous Danish mathematician and poet Piet Hein in 1942. We created the video to show the robust spirit of excitement on how the system goes. It is called the Hexadecimal Paradox. Enjoy!