CHAP. III.

OF VULGAR ARITHMETIC.

SECT. I.

NOTATION OF NUmbers.

ARITHMETIC is the most neceffary of all the sciences. From hence we may account for the perfection to which this part of literature is brought, above any other branch of nathematical science.

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Notation, ftrictly speaking, is that part of arithmetic which teaches how to write any number by its proper racters, or figures, and confequently in their due places; alfo to read, or difcover, the true value of fuch number, when written.

All numbers, and the various combinations of them, are noted by these ten characters, i one, 2 two, 3 three, 4 four, 5 five, 6 fix, 7 feren, 8-eight, 9 nine, o cypher or nothing.

Each of these characters, when used alone, ftands for no more than its own intrinfic value; thus, 1 ftands only for one in number, 2 for only 2, &c. But when any of them are joined to other figures, they together ftand for more than their own real separate value: thus, 1 and 2, joined together thus, 12, ftands for twelve; 6 and 5, joined together, ftands for 65, fixty-five, &c.