The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-06-03
NORRIS 3 WILLIAMS, Publishers and Proprietors.

may nevertheless, seem slngularly strange
to some. A very slight investigation will
make this a self evident fact. For exam
pie, to commence with numeration., In
reading numbers, we are taught to com
mence at the left hand, and read from left
right. . Gould not the hearrangementhave
been made with as much precision by re-
.versing this order and reading the CON
trary way (? It is to be wondered that this
was not the established Fbrder, from the
fact that the Hebrew science and other
prevailing languages of antiquity were
written and read in this way, instead of
the modern plan of reading from left to
right in most Languages ssir aaqq
1 According to the decimal system, which
owes its origin to, Napier the inventor,
of logarithms numbers are divided into
what is called orders, these are made to
increase in d certain ratio, or measure,
which is observed as fundamental prin-
1ciple from the smallest considerable num-
Der, to the highest in the scale of imagi-
nation; ten units of any one order making
a unit of the next higher order. ..s si;l
While this arrangement is not only
jhighly practical in its nature, as well as
beautiful in construction, eyiucing deep
research and inventive &c Mus. in its dis
covery and combination, rejecting honor
upon the author for laying thelfoundation
| Observation-Disclosures SO simple, yet correct
bases; yet tits plainly evident that the
whole. fabric, is an arbitrary production,
tsuggested by no natural reason. This is
Inothipg new to the mathematician, though
the eyes of some may fall on this paper
fthat may not 50 Thoroughly understand it,
therefore it will be attempted. to show in
this place that the decimal system is ca
1pable of improyement--that it has not
reached the acme of perfection - Hols
issS0ne way by which this Improvement
lcould be. effected would be. to make a
greater number of units of one order equal
! to unit Of the next higher order. il
this was done the trouble of borrowing as
it is called, would decrease in proportion
fas the ratio of the orders exceeded ten-
Any number might be made the measure
of increase by preserving the same ratio
throughout. ssean =
If the number 90 for instance, was the
i established, ratio, it would then require
twenty nnitszof one order to make a unit
jof the next higher, {instead of 10 in the
4 decimal SYSTEM and itwould be cnecess1ry
to carry, but one in twenty whilst perform
/ ing the several operations required in The
fundamental rules. If thirty, forty. o.
4 fifty was used. the difficulty would pro
portienally decrease. In order to max,
J. this change some new characters must b,
introduced and an entire revolution il
. arlthmetical computations take place; bu
f upon the whole, it is believed that adyan
: |tages realized would amply compensat
!. the increased trouble in forming such
i system.
e. These reflections you will understand
81 are mere speculations from; similar train
s of reason, however, the sciences have a
! been carried from an embryo state to thei
t present high degree of perfection. &c
e eflumbns. by thinking conceived the earth
Il rotundity, Newton the theory Of grayits
ton, aud Gallileo the planetary system
8 the universe, i have adyerted to th
I proposed change for the purpose of SHOW
l-ting that it can be done, and to exhibit
y as clear light as possible, the arbitraI
y character Of the decimal system. 1t ma
9 be the means of arousing some minds
81 think upon this subject that have nevt
n given it more than passing notice. I'll
Q probability that it will ever take place, /
\ at least soon, seems quite remote. @
d the contrary the prospect that the presel
e system will continue for ages to com
q seems highly probable. That everythiu
5. else will be made to conform to this sy
~ tenn seems the nostlikely result to be loo
D ed for; we have made the ,introdnctoi
e movement in that direction, by diyidiI
h our currency into deeimate ratio, al
Of England, / believe by her Parliament, h
3. taken steps to reduce her currency fro
Tits present irregular confused state, to Il
st'fsame standard This, no doubt, will
is. s.ffolloweds in succession by the reduction
Of all compound numbers from an irregul
n confused state to the same standard.
IN ~ When this change can be effected,
lefgreat obstacle will be surmounted in Il
" way of computing compound numbers;
es will certainly be.a s Halcyon day = for t
G. student in arithmetic. The mysticis
ssfthat now surrounds compound numbe
q will be supplanted by easy and plain rule
a. The advantages viii be reciprocal with t
,g scholar and teacher in this importa
t. branch Of arithmetic. There is an ann
e. field in this principle for many interests
es speeulations, every operation in arithme
is lissclosely related to notation and nurnel
an4 4tion, in fact all the operations in the fu
Us damental rules depend upon these two.
'e- The fundamental rules are 50 we'll .
er Iderstood, or at least should be,gby eve
all teacher, that it is here unnecessary to {
rellplain them. II may not be amiss to s
that where 8 principle exists, it is deriy
ci- Immediately from these two, independt
BE Iof these Deductions no principle exis
3r- according to my understanding of I