What determines the number of symbols used in a numeral system?

The number of symbols used in a numeral system is determined by the base number. A numeral system's base indicates how many distinct symbols (or digits) are used to represent numbers. For example, in the decimal system (base 10), there are ten symbols: 0 through 9. In the binary system (base 2), only two symbols are used: 0 and 1.

The base number fundamentally defines the structure and limits of the numeral system, meaning that higher base numbers will have a larger set of symbols. For instance, a base 16 system (hexadecimal) utilizes sixteen symbols (0-9 and A-F) to represent values. Thus, the base number directly influences the total count of symbols, making it the correct choice for determining the number of symbols in a numeral system.