The concept of a dozen, representing the number 12, dates back to ancient civilizations, where it was favored for its divisibility. Twelve can be divided evenly into halves, thirds, and quarters, making it extremely useful for trade and distribution. This efficiency explains its prominence in selling items like eggs, pastries, and even flowers, which are often still grouped in dozens today.
Interestingly, the dozen has transcended its original purpose to influence language and culture. Expressions such as “a baker’s dozen,” which refers to 13, emerged from the medieval practice where bakers would add an extra loaf to a batch of 12 to avoid penalties for selling underweight bread. Through such trivia, the dozen showcases its significant role in both commerce and everyday life.
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.
| Dozens | Long Hundred |
|---|---|
0
doz
|
0
long-hundred
|
0.5
doz
|
0.05
long-hundred
|
1
doz
|
0.1
long-hundred
|
1.5
doz
|
0.15
long-hundred
|
2
doz
|
0.2
long-hundred
|
2.5
doz
|
0.25
long-hundred
|
3
doz
|
0.3
long-hundred
|
3.5
doz
|
0.35
long-hundred
|
4
doz
|
0.4
long-hundred
|
4.5
doz
|
0.45
long-hundred
|
5
doz
|
0.5
long-hundred
|
5.5
doz
|
0.55
long-hundred
|
6
doz
|
0.6
long-hundred
|
6.5
doz
|
0.65
long-hundred
|
7
doz
|
0.7
long-hundred
|
7.5
doz
|
0.75
long-hundred
|
8
doz
|
0.8
long-hundred
|
8.5
doz
|
0.85
long-hundred
|
9
doz
|
0.9
long-hundred
|
9.5
doz
|
0.95
long-hundred
|
10
doz
|
1
long-hundred
|
10.5
doz
|
1.05
long-hundred
|
11
doz
|
1.1
long-hundred
|
11.5
doz
|
1.15
long-hundred
|
12
doz
|
1.2
long-hundred
|
12.5
doz
|
1.25
long-hundred
|
13
doz
|
1.3
long-hundred
|
13.5
doz
|
1.35
long-hundred
|
14
doz
|
1.4
long-hundred
|
14.5
doz
|
1.45
long-hundred
|
15
doz
|
1.5
long-hundred
|
15.5
doz
|
1.55
long-hundred
|
16
doz
|
1.6
long-hundred
|
16.5
doz
|
1.65
long-hundred
|
17
doz
|
1.7
long-hundred
|
17.5
doz
|
1.75
long-hundred
|
18
doz
|
1.8
long-hundred
|
18.5
doz
|
1.85
long-hundred
|
19
doz
|
1.9
long-hundred
|
19.5
doz
|
1.95
long-hundred
|
20
doz
|
2
long-hundred
|
20.5
doz
|
2.05
long-hundred
|
21
doz
|
2.1
long-hundred
|
21.5
doz
|
2.15
long-hundred
|
22
doz
|
2.2
long-hundred
|
22.5
doz
|
2.25
long-hundred
|
23
doz
|
2.3
long-hundred
|
23.5
doz
|
2.35
long-hundred
|
24
doz
|
2.4
long-hundred
|
24.5
doz
|
2.45
long-hundred
|
25
doz
|
2.5
long-hundred
|
25.5
doz
|
2.55
long-hundred
|
26
doz
|
2.6
long-hundred
|
26.5
doz
|
2.65
long-hundred
|
27
doz
|
2.7
long-hundred
|
27.5
doz
|
2.75
long-hundred
|
28
doz
|
2.8
long-hundred
|
28.5
doz
|
2.85
long-hundred
|
29
doz
|
2.9
long-hundred
|
29.5
doz
|
2.95
long-hundred
|
30
doz
|
3
long-hundred
|
30.5
doz
|
3.05
long-hundred
|
31
doz
|
3.1
long-hundred
|
31.5
doz
|
3.15
long-hundred
|
32
doz
|
3.2
long-hundred
|
32.5
doz
|
3.25
long-hundred
|
33
doz
|
3.3
long-hundred
|
33.5
doz
|
3.35
long-hundred
|
34
doz
|
3.4
long-hundred
|
34.5
doz
|
3.45
long-hundred
|
35
doz
|
3.5
long-hundred
|
35.5
doz
|
3.55
long-hundred
|
36
doz
|
3.6
long-hundred
|
36.5
doz
|
3.65
long-hundred
|
37
doz
|
3.7
long-hundred
|
37.5
doz
|
3.75
long-hundred
|
38
doz
|
3.8
long-hundred
|
38.5
doz
|
3.85
long-hundred
|
39
doz
|
3.9
long-hundred
|
39.5
doz
|
3.95
long-hundred
|
40
doz
|
4
long-hundred
|
40.5
doz
|
4.05
long-hundred
|
41
doz
|
4.1
long-hundred
|
41.5
doz
|
4.15
long-hundred
|
42
doz
|
4.2
long-hundred
|
42.5
doz
|
4.25
long-hundred
|
43
doz
|
4.3
long-hundred
|
43.5
doz
|
4.35
long-hundred
|
44
doz
|
4.4
long-hundred
|
44.5
doz
|
4.45
long-hundred
|
45
doz
|
4.5
long-hundred
|
45.5
doz
|
4.55
long-hundred
|
46
doz
|
4.6
long-hundred
|
46.5
doz
|
4.65
long-hundred
|
47
doz
|
4.7
long-hundred
|
47.5
doz
|
4.75
long-hundred
|
48
doz
|
4.8
long-hundred
|
48.5
doz
|
4.85
long-hundred
|
49
doz
|
4.9
long-hundred
|
49.5
doz
|
4.95
long-hundred
|
50
doz
|
5
long-hundred
|
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