Ukunikwa kwamanani iimpawu ezithile kwenziwa ngeendlela-ngeendlela. Ezi ndlela ke zibizwa ngokuba zii-number systems. Eyona-number system ethanda ukusetyenziswa ngabantu yi-base ten number system. I-base ten number system ikwaziwa ngokuba yi-decimal number system. I-base ten number system ixhaphakile kuba abantu baneminwe elishumi neenzwane ezilishumi. Zili-10 iimpawu zamanani {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, kunye no-9} ezisetyenziswa kwi-base ten number system. Ezimpawu zilishumi zibizwa ngokuba zii-digits.