Arithmetic
Arithmetic is a branch of mathematics that deals with the manipulation of numbers. It is known to cause fear and anxiety among students, especially when it comes to long division or fractions. However, fear not! This humorous encyclopedia article is here to make this topic more bearable with some funny facts.
History
Arithmetic has been around since humans started counting things. It was developed to aid in trade and commerce. Imagine trying to barter with the local farmer without knowing how to add and subtract! In the early days, people used their fingers and toes as counting tools. That’s why we have a base-10 number system today.
Operations
The most common arithmetic operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These may seem simple, but they can cause a lot of trouble, especially when you forget to carry the one, or you divide by zero. And don’t even get us started on PEMDAS. Why can’t we just add and subtract from left to right like in elementary school?
Fun facts
- The word “arithmetic” comes from the Greek word “aritmos,” which means number. It also sounds like something a pirate would say when counting their loot. Arrrrith-matic!
- The equals sign (=) was invented by Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde in 1557. Before that, people used phrases like “is equal to” or “equals by definition.” Thank goodness for Recorde’s laziness in wanting to shorten those phrases.
- In ancient Rome, the symbol for zero was the letter “N.” It’s a good thing we switched to the digit zero, or it would be really confusing to order a pizza with “N pepperoni.”
Conclusion
Arithmetic may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but it’s an essential part of our lives. We use it every day when we calculate our bank balance, split the bill at a restaurant, or figure out how much we owe in taxes. So, let’s give arithmetic a round of applause for helping us make sense of the world around us. And let’s not forget to carry the one!