Which numeral system uses digits 0 through 9?

• A. Base 3
• B. Base 10
• C. Base 16
• D. Binary Numbering System

Answer: (B)

Digits defined for a numeral system come from its base—the number of distinct symbols available for each position. When you see the symbols 0 through 9, that set covers ten distinct values, which means the system is base-ten, the decimal system. In this system, each place value represents a power of ten, and after reaching 9 you carry to the next higher place.

Other numeral systems use different symbol sets: a base-3 system uses only 0, 1, and 2; a base-16 system uses 0–9 plus letters A–F to represent ten through fifteen; binary uses only 0 and 1. So the ones that use digits 0 through 9 are the decimal (base-ten) system.