Re: measuring systems (was: Selenites)

Tommie Powell scripsit:

> >P.S., how did the Romans do multiplication with Roman numerals?  I can't
> >imagine trying to multiply XXIII by XIV without converting into Arabic
> >numberals.
>
> By substitution and cancellation.  Pretty mindless, but slow (because it
> requires a lot of rewriting).
Actually, Roman numerals were mostly used to record the *results*
of calculation, rather than *for* calculation.  The latter was
typically done on a sort of abacus, with a sand-covered board (or just
the sandy ground) for the frame and pebbles (*calculi* in Latin)
for the moving parts.

--
John Cowan      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              cowan@ccil.org
        You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
        You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
                Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)