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Decimal arithmatic - history of
Decimal arithmetic the most Commodious mode of Reconing [Reckoning] for the Learned & the simples most simple or advantageous for the ignorant & it removes from the mind & the memory the great Source of Errors derived from the use necessity of using different divisions in arranging one account, took its Rise no doubt from the natural facility of using the fingers as reconning merely for Counting; the uncivilized Savage who had a multitude of individuals say Eggs or apples to take an account of would naturally Count by his Fingers Separating each ten from the Rest when he attained ten times ten he might Could blend them into a mass the Contents of which he Could would not fail to Remember & in the Same way he might Could take an account of thousands tens of thousand & & without much danger of losing his account either of the
in our Customary mode of Reconning we begin by measuring up the Right hand Line which is Farthing & having Collected this number we must divide it by four & make that into Pence, we proceed to Collect the number of Pence & dividing them by twelve we procure the number of Shillings which we Carry on to the next Column where having numbered the Shillings we must divide them by twenty to Constitute Pounds here is the end of our ill Contrived operation reconning for beyond the Twe pound every further operation is done by decimal arithmetic the Sum Obtained being always divided by ten. Every one must have noticed the great facility with which the Column of Pounds is Cost up tho it may Consist of an unlimited number of figures while Ea neither of the other 3 Columns Can Contain more than 2 figures if the farthings were divisible by ten the Shillings Pence & the Shillings the Same the facility of Costing up Each Column, but to bring this about a Penny must consist of ten farthings & the Shillings of ten Pence & a Pound of 10 Shillings a change in the terms by which we measure the value of property so great this practise at Least it would produce more inconvenience by the Confusion it would create the advantage from the facility it would
One utility & advantage of Decimal Counting is admitted by all men to be very extensive & there is no doubt it would have adopted by all nations long ago had not the Fear of Creating a Temporary Confusion in accounts & a dread of the trouble of Learning a new mode of Counting deterrd Legislation from preparing it or the People from requiring it