In the above list you perceive the numeral letters are I, V, X, L, C, D, and M; the letter that stands for a smaller sum put before one that denotes a greater takes so many from it, and that after it adds so many to it.
The numbers you learned long ago; but I don't think you know the numeration table, it will teach you to read any number of figures not exceeding nine: the last figure on the right hand denotes units, or single figures, the one before that tens, then hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, tens of hundreds of thousands, millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions, now my dear read the following number, 123,456,789.
Anne. One hundred and twenty three millions, four hundred and fifty six thousand, seven hundred and eighty nine.
Mrs. Harley. Right; it is absolutely necessary to be able to read figures perfectly, before you can learn arithmetic.
Anne. What is arithmetic, mamma?
Mrs. Harley. The act of numbering, or computing by numbers, my dear. The four principal rules of arithmetic are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Anne. I wish you would explain them to me.
Mrs. Harley. Addition teaches to collect several numbers together in order to know their total value. The answer to a question in addition is therefore called the sum, total, or amount; subtraction teaches to take a less number from a greater, in order to know the remainder. The answer in subtraction is called the remainder, or difference.