Thanks to all of my math-geek and general-geek friends for their answers re: non-base 10 numeric systems!

I was confused by the alphanumic bits, though. Someone care to elucidate in language a two-year-old could grasp? Pretty please? I'll cook for you or something in return!

I'm being bugged by thoughts of non-base 10 numeric systems. Specifically, I'm attempting to remember how they work. For instance, in a base 3 system, would the count go: 1 2 3 10 11 12 13 20, etc., or would it be 1 2 10 11 12 20, etc.? I'm thinking the former, but am unsure. Someone who remembers middle school math to the rescue, please?