A ream is a unit of measurement predominantly used in the paper industry, traditionally amounting to 500 sheets of paper. Interestingly, the origin of the term traces back to the Arabic word “rizmah,” meaning “bundle,” and it made its way to English through Old French. Beyond the classic ream of 500 sheets, there are variants such as the printer’s ream, which can sometimes consist of 516 or 532 sheets to account for production and packaging discrepancies.
Historically, the definition of a ream has varied, with ancient versions containing as few as 480 sheets. Today, reams make paper inventory and transaction precision easier for businesses worldwide. Moreover, the ream serves as a convenient metric in assessing and comparing paper consumption on both individual and corporate scales, offering an intriguing glimpse into resource usage and sustainability 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.
Reams | Long Hundred |
---|---|
0
ream
|
0
long-hundred
|
0.5
ream
|
2.08333
long-hundred
|
1
ream
|
4.16667
long-hundred
|
1.5
ream
|
6.25
long-hundred
|
2
ream
|
8.33333
long-hundred
|
2.5
ream
|
10.41667
long-hundred
|
3
ream
|
12.5
long-hundred
|
3.5
ream
|
14.58333
long-hundred
|
4
ream
|
16.66667
long-hundred
|
4.5
ream
|
18.75
long-hundred
|
5
ream
|
20.83333
long-hundred
|
5.5
ream
|
22.91667
long-hundred
|
6
ream
|
25
long-hundred
|
6.5
ream
|
27.08333
long-hundred
|
7
ream
|
29.16667
long-hundred
|
7.5
ream
|
31.25
long-hundred
|
8
ream
|
33.33333
long-hundred
|
8.5
ream
|
35.41667
long-hundred
|
9
ream
|
37.5
long-hundred
|
9.5
ream
|
39.58333
long-hundred
|
10
ream
|
41.66667
long-hundred
|
10.5
ream
|
43.75
long-hundred
|
11
ream
|
45.83333
long-hundred
|
11.5
ream
|
47.91667
long-hundred
|
12
ream
|
50
long-hundred
|
12.5
ream
|
52.08333
long-hundred
|
13
ream
|
54.16667
long-hundred
|
13.5
ream
|
56.25
long-hundred
|
14
ream
|
58.33333
long-hundred
|
14.5
ream
|
60.41667
long-hundred
|
15
ream
|
62.5
long-hundred
|
15.5
ream
|
64.58333
long-hundred
|
16
ream
|
66.66667
long-hundred
|
16.5
ream
|
68.75
long-hundred
|
17
ream
|
70.83333
long-hundred
|
17.5
ream
|
72.91667
long-hundred
|
18
ream
|
75
long-hundred
|
18.5
ream
|
77.08333
long-hundred
|
19
ream
|
79.16667
long-hundred
|
19.5
ream
|
81.25
long-hundred
|
20
ream
|
83.33333
long-hundred
|
20.5
ream
|
85.41667
long-hundred
|
21
ream
|
87.5
long-hundred
|
21.5
ream
|
89.58333
long-hundred
|
22
ream
|
91.66667
long-hundred
|
22.5
ream
|
93.75
long-hundred
|
23
ream
|
95.83333
long-hundred
|
23.5
ream
|
97.91667
long-hundred
|
24
ream
|
100
long-hundred
|
24.5
ream
|
102.08333
long-hundred
|
25
ream
|
104.16667
long-hundred
|
25.5
ream
|
106.25
long-hundred
|
26
ream
|
108.33333
long-hundred
|
26.5
ream
|
110.41667
long-hundred
|
27
ream
|
112.5
long-hundred
|
27.5
ream
|
114.58333
long-hundred
|
28
ream
|
116.66667
long-hundred
|
28.5
ream
|
118.75
long-hundred
|
29
ream
|
120.83333
long-hundred
|
29.5
ream
|
122.91667
long-hundred
|
30
ream
|
125
long-hundred
|
30.5
ream
|
127.08333
long-hundred
|
31
ream
|
129.16667
long-hundred
|
31.5
ream
|
131.25
long-hundred
|
32
ream
|
133.33333
long-hundred
|
32.5
ream
|
135.41667
long-hundred
|
33
ream
|
137.5
long-hundred
|
33.5
ream
|
139.58333
long-hundred
|
34
ream
|
141.66667
long-hundred
|
34.5
ream
|
143.75
long-hundred
|
35
ream
|
145.83333
long-hundred
|
35.5
ream
|
147.91667
long-hundred
|
36
ream
|
150
long-hundred
|
36.5
ream
|
152.08333
long-hundred
|
37
ream
|
154.16667
long-hundred
|
37.5
ream
|
156.25
long-hundred
|
38
ream
|
158.33333
long-hundred
|
38.5
ream
|
160.41667
long-hundred
|
39
ream
|
162.5
long-hundred
|
39.5
ream
|
164.58333
long-hundred
|
40
ream
|
166.66667
long-hundred
|
40.5
ream
|
168.75
long-hundred
|
41
ream
|
170.83333
long-hundred
|
41.5
ream
|
172.91667
long-hundred
|
42
ream
|
175
long-hundred
|
42.5
ream
|
177.08333
long-hundred
|
43
ream
|
179.16667
long-hundred
|
43.5
ream
|
181.25
long-hundred
|
44
ream
|
183.33333
long-hundred
|
44.5
ream
|
185.41667
long-hundred
|
45
ream
|
187.5
long-hundred
|
45.5
ream
|
189.58333
long-hundred
|
46
ream
|
191.66667
long-hundred
|
46.5
ream
|
193.75
long-hundred
|
47
ream
|
195.83333
long-hundred
|
47.5
ream
|
197.91667
long-hundred
|
48
ream
|
200
long-hundred
|
48.5
ream
|
202.08333
long-hundred
|
49
ream
|
204.16667
long-hundred
|
49.5
ream
|
206.25
long-hundred
|
50
ream
|
208.33333
long-hundred
|
If you like the website, share it on social media.