Often used in trade and commerce, a “gross” is a fascinating unit of measure that signifies a dozen dozens, or 144 items. This term has its roots in the French word “grosse douzaine,” which translates to “large dozen.” Widely used in industries like the printing and manufacturing of items such as pencils or eggs, this unit provides an efficient way to manage and standardize bulk quantities.
A captivating use of the gross came from its influence on “gross income” or “gross profit,” reflecting on the idea of a total before deductions. This unit’s consistency simplifies accounting and inventory, and its history is a testament to the practicality needed in the global development of trade practices.
The “Long Hundred,” also known as a “Great Hundred,” might perplex many today as it stands at 120, instead of the standard 100. Rooted in historical and linguistic evolution, this ancient counting system was prevalent in Northern Europe, notably England and Germany, during the Middle Ages. This unconventional unit was used in various contexts, especially in calculations involving large quantities, such as trade goods or livestock. The Long Hundred illuminates how numbers were historically adapted to meet specific community needs and showcases the fluidity of numerical systems. As societies developed standardized counting methods, such unique units gradually fell out of use, yet they remind us of the rich tapestry of historical numeral lore.
| Gross | Long Hundred |
|---|---|
0
gros
|
0
long-hundred
|
0.5
gros
|
0.6
long-hundred
|
1
gros
|
1.2
long-hundred
|
1.5
gros
|
1.8
long-hundred
|
2
gros
|
2.4
long-hundred
|
2.5
gros
|
3
long-hundred
|
3
gros
|
3.6
long-hundred
|
3.5
gros
|
4.2
long-hundred
|
4
gros
|
4.8
long-hundred
|
4.5
gros
|
5.4
long-hundred
|
5
gros
|
6
long-hundred
|
5.5
gros
|
6.6
long-hundred
|
6
gros
|
7.2
long-hundred
|
6.5
gros
|
7.8
long-hundred
|
7
gros
|
8.4
long-hundred
|
7.5
gros
|
9
long-hundred
|
8
gros
|
9.6
long-hundred
|
8.5
gros
|
10.2
long-hundred
|
9
gros
|
10.8
long-hundred
|
9.5
gros
|
11.4
long-hundred
|
10
gros
|
12
long-hundred
|
10.5
gros
|
12.6
long-hundred
|
11
gros
|
13.2
long-hundred
|
11.5
gros
|
13.8
long-hundred
|
12
gros
|
14.4
long-hundred
|
12.5
gros
|
15
long-hundred
|
13
gros
|
15.6
long-hundred
|
13.5
gros
|
16.2
long-hundred
|
14
gros
|
16.8
long-hundred
|
14.5
gros
|
17.4
long-hundred
|
15
gros
|
18
long-hundred
|
15.5
gros
|
18.6
long-hundred
|
16
gros
|
19.2
long-hundred
|
16.5
gros
|
19.8
long-hundred
|
17
gros
|
20.4
long-hundred
|
17.5
gros
|
21
long-hundred
|
18
gros
|
21.6
long-hundred
|
18.5
gros
|
22.2
long-hundred
|
19
gros
|
22.8
long-hundred
|
19.5
gros
|
23.4
long-hundred
|
20
gros
|
24
long-hundred
|
20.5
gros
|
24.6
long-hundred
|
21
gros
|
25.2
long-hundred
|
21.5
gros
|
25.8
long-hundred
|
22
gros
|
26.4
long-hundred
|
22.5
gros
|
27
long-hundred
|
23
gros
|
27.6
long-hundred
|
23.5
gros
|
28.2
long-hundred
|
24
gros
|
28.8
long-hundred
|
24.5
gros
|
29.4
long-hundred
|
25
gros
|
30
long-hundred
|
25.5
gros
|
30.6
long-hundred
|
26
gros
|
31.2
long-hundred
|
26.5
gros
|
31.8
long-hundred
|
27
gros
|
32.4
long-hundred
|
27.5
gros
|
33
long-hundred
|
28
gros
|
33.6
long-hundred
|
28.5
gros
|
34.2
long-hundred
|
29
gros
|
34.8
long-hundred
|
29.5
gros
|
35.4
long-hundred
|
30
gros
|
36
long-hundred
|
30.5
gros
|
36.6
long-hundred
|
31
gros
|
37.2
long-hundred
|
31.5
gros
|
37.8
long-hundred
|
32
gros
|
38.4
long-hundred
|
32.5
gros
|
39
long-hundred
|
33
gros
|
39.6
long-hundred
|
33.5
gros
|
40.2
long-hundred
|
34
gros
|
40.8
long-hundred
|
34.5
gros
|
41.4
long-hundred
|
35
gros
|
42
long-hundred
|
35.5
gros
|
42.6
long-hundred
|
36
gros
|
43.2
long-hundred
|
36.5
gros
|
43.8
long-hundred
|
37
gros
|
44.4
long-hundred
|
37.5
gros
|
45
long-hundred
|
38
gros
|
45.6
long-hundred
|
38.5
gros
|
46.2
long-hundred
|
39
gros
|
46.8
long-hundred
|
39.5
gros
|
47.4
long-hundred
|
40
gros
|
48
long-hundred
|
40.5
gros
|
48.6
long-hundred
|
41
gros
|
49.2
long-hundred
|
41.5
gros
|
49.8
long-hundred
|
42
gros
|
50.4
long-hundred
|
42.5
gros
|
51
long-hundred
|
43
gros
|
51.6
long-hundred
|
43.5
gros
|
52.2
long-hundred
|
44
gros
|
52.8
long-hundred
|
44.5
gros
|
53.4
long-hundred
|
45
gros
|
54
long-hundred
|
45.5
gros
|
54.6
long-hundred
|
46
gros
|
55.2
long-hundred
|
46.5
gros
|
55.8
long-hundred
|
47
gros
|
56.4
long-hundred
|
47.5
gros
|
57
long-hundred
|
48
gros
|
57.6
long-hundred
|
48.5
gros
|
58.2
long-hundred
|
49
gros
|
58.8
long-hundred
|
49.5
gros
|
59.4
long-hundred
|
50
gros
|
60
long-hundred
|
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