Twelves and Tens

By A.C. Aitken
Posted by hexnet ::

This article was transcribed from a PDF file originally hosted on the Dozenal Society of America site, reprinted from The Listener, 25 January 1962.

On the case against the system of decimalization

Many people will be wondering why a mathematician should argue against the proposed change-over to decimal currency and the metric system of weights and measures. Surely, they will think, everyone is agreed that the decimal system is the most practicable system in which to carry out both small calculations and large ones? I wish to point out certain reasons why this is not so, and to show that there exists a better system, which in Britain we have in part already, and which, unwisely in my opinion, we are preparing to throw away.