School Arithmetic, in Theory and Practice (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 Excerpt: ...in the tables with definite mental images. Such teaching would greatly tend to relieve the drudgery of table learning, which is too often a bore both to teachers and children. MONEY.--The standard coins of gold, silver, and copper are: --(1.) The Sovereign, weighing 123-274 grains, of which 2 parts out of 24 are copper, and the rest gold. Gold of this fineness is standard gold (22 carats fine), and is worth about 3 17s. iojd. per oz. The sovereign, under the name of a pound sterling, is the unit of account. (2.) The Shilling, which weighs 87-273 grains, and consists of 3 parts of alloy to 37 of pure silver. Standard silver is worth about 5s. 6d. per oz. (3.) The Penny, formerly a copper coin, but now made of bronze, containing 95 per cent. of copper, 4 of tin, and 1 of zinc, and weighing 145-83 grains. It may be useful to remark that 3 pennies weigh exactly 1 cz. avoirdupois. COINS OP ACCOUNT. 4 farthings = 1 penny. 12 pence = 1 shilling. 20 shillings = 1 pound. COINS OF CURRENCY. A crown = 5 shillings. A half-crown = 2 shillings and 6 pence. A florin = 2 shillings. The only coins used in keeping accounts are the farthing, penny, shilling, and pound. Other coins in circulation are called coins of currency. Besides those given in the table which are all of silver, there are the half sovereign of gold, the sixpence, the fourpenny piece, the threepenny piece of silver, and the halfpenny of copper, the values of which are indicated by their names. MEASURES OF LENGTH.--The lowest measure of length is the inch, which was formerly divided into 3 barleycorns and 12 lines. The standard measure of length, however, is the Imperial Yard, which is a solid square bar of bronze, in which two gold plugs are inserted, viz., one near to each end. The distance between th...