AQUiLA MAGAZINE
MONEY MATHS
Using a trick
Take twice the number of farthings as shillings , and the number of farthings for pence . Five pence equals 20 farthings , so 5 3 / 4d is 23 farthings . Twice that is 46 , so we have 46 shillings . With 20 shillings in a pound , 46 shillings is 2 pounds and six shillings . Then we use the number of farthings as pence . 23 pence equals 1 shilling and 11 pence . Adding it all together , we have £ 2 7s 11 d .
This trick works because there are 48 farthings in a shilling , when we take twice the number of farthings , we have 48 x 2 = 96 , which means we are multiplying by 96 . Then , since there are four farthings in a penny , we are actually multiplying by four here . Since 96 + 4 = 100 , it means we are multiplying the whole thing by 100 ! To put this mathematically , where a is the number we want to multiply : 100a = ( 48 x 2a ) + 4a
And the wonderful thing is , you don ’ t need to understand the exact maths of how it is done , you just need to apply the trick ! The trick uses simpler maths , making it much quicker , once you are used to it !
Chocolate bars Remember to take twice the number of farthings as shillings , and the number of farthings for pence . 6 x 4 = 24 farthings , we need twice that or 48 to give us the number of shillings . 48 shillings equals 2 pounds and 8 shillings . 24 pence is equal to 2 shillings , so our total is £ 2 10s .
Can you see how quick it is when you get the hang of it ?!
Crisps 5 x 4 = 20 , which , when we double it gives us 40 shillings or 2 pounds . Then 20 farthings converts to 20 pence or 1 shilling and 8 pence , so the answer is £ 2 1s 8d .
Try doing it longhand if you need to check the answer !
CALCULATA WANTS TO HEAR ALL ABOUT YOUR MIND-BENDING MATHS !
Write and tell us how you got on with these calculations and what you think of OLD MONEY ! Do you wish it still existed or are you very happy that we live in the age of decimalisation !.
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© AQUILA Magazine . Written by Iqbal Hussain