28. There is no process in arithmetic which does not consist entirely
in the increase or diminution of numbers. There is then nothing which
might not be done with collections of pebbles. Probably, at first,
either these or the fingers were used. Our word _calculation_ is
derived from the Latin word _calculus_, which means a pebble. Shorter
ways of counting have been invented, by which many calculations, which
would require long and tedious reckoning if pebbles were used, are made
at once with very little trouble. The four great methods are, Addition,
Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division; of which, the last two are
only ways of doing several of the first and second at once.
29. When one number is increased by others, the number which is as
large as all the numbers together is called their _sum_. The process
of finding the sum of two or more numbers is called ADDITION, and, as
was said before, is denoted by placing a cross (+) between the numbers
which are to be added together.
Suppose it required to find the sum of 1834 and 2799. In order to add
these numbers, take them to pieces, dividing each into its units, tens,
hundreds, and thousands:
1834 is 1 thous. 8 hund. 3 tens and 4;
2799 is 2 thous. 7 hund. 9 tens and 9.
Each number is thus broken up into four parts. If to each part of the
first you add the part of the second which is under it, and then put
together what you get from these additions, you will have added 1834
and 2799. In the first number are 4 units, and in the second 9: these
will, when the numbers are added together, contribute 13 units to
the sum. Again, the 3 tens in the first and the 9 tens in the second
will contribute 12 tens to the sum. The 8 hundreds in the first and
the 7 hundreds in the second will add 15 hundreds to the sum; and
the thousand in the first with the 2 thousands in the second will
contribute 3 thousands to the sum; therefore the sum required is
3 thousands, 15 hundreds, 12 tens, and 13 units.
To simplify this result, you must recollect that--
13 units are 1 ten and 3 units.
12 tens are 1 hund. and 2 tens.
15 hund. are 1 thous. and 5 hund.
3 thous. are 3 thous.
Now collect the numbers on the right hand side together, as was done
before, and this will give, as the sum of 1834 and 2799,
4 thousands, 6 hundreds, 3 tens, and 3 units,
which (19) is written 4633.
30. The former process, written with the signs of (23) is as follows:
1834 = 1 × 1000 + 8 × 100 + 3 × 10 + 4
2799 = 2 × 1000 + 7 × 100 + 9 × 10 + 9
Therefore,
1834 + 2799 = 3 × 1000 + 15 × 100 + 12 × 10 + 13
But 13 = 1 × 10 + 3
12 × 10 = 1 × 100 + 2 × 10
15 × 100 = 1 × 1000 + 5 × 100
3 × 1000 = 3 × 1000
Therefore,
1834 + 2799 = 4 × 1000 + 6 × 100 + 3 × 10 + 3
= 4633.
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