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With great difficulty. The easy bit was shillings: there were 20 shillings in a pound and 100 decimal pennies. At the time of their introduction, the latter were called New Pence (NP) and I will stick to that notation.So 1 shilling = 0.05 pounds = 5 NP.
The problem came with converting 12 [old] pennies in a shilling to 5 NP. A saving grace was that there was still a 1/2 New Penny coin
Formally, that was done though rounding:
1p = 0.41666... NP
2p = 0.83333... NP
3p = 0.1.25 NP
4p = 0.16666... NP
5p = 2.08333... NP
6p = 2.5 NP
7p = 2.91666... NP
8p = 3.33333... NP
9p = 3.75 NP
10p = 4.1666... NP
11p = 4.5833... NP
12p = 5.0 NP
Conversion tables were published but I am sure that many people were ripped off before the transition settled down.
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How do you do British pre-decimal math?
All school kids got used to it very quickly. The maths of predecimal currencies was another reason for the conversion to a decimal based currency system. There were 12 Pennies in a Shilling, and 20 Shilling in a Pound. That is what you need to remember. Add these two predecimal values - £3/15/6 - 3 Pounds, 15 Shillings and 6 Pence. £2/ 7/ 8 - 2 Pounds, 7 Shillings and 8 Pence. Add the pennies first. 8 Pence + 6 Pence = 14 Pence. 14 Pence = 1 Shilling and 2 Pence. Put down the 2 Pence and carry the 1 Shilling. £ / / 2 Next, add the Shillings starting with the carried over 1 Shilling from the Pence addition. 1 Shilling + 7 Shillings + 15 Shillings = 23 Shillings. 23 Shillings = 1 Pound and 3 Shillings. Put down the 3 Shillings and carry the 1 Pound. £ / 3/ 2 Finally, add the Pounds starting with the carried over 1 Pound from the Shillings addition. 1 Pound + 2 Pound + 3 Pound = 6 Pounds. £6/ 3/ 2 - Total = 6 Pounds, 3 Shillings and 2 Pence. Easy. This was mental arithmetic for shopkeepers and other business people in predecimal days.
How do you convert 3.5 into a decimal?
You cannot convert a decimal into a decimal!
How do you convert to a decimal 0.2?
0.2 already is a decimal. There is nothing to convert.0.2 already is a decimal. There is nothing to convert.0.2 already is a decimal. There is nothing to convert.0.2 already is a decimal. There is nothing to convert.
How do you convert 29.53 to a decimal?
Convert 29.53 to decimal
What is 5 and 6 pence worth in American money?
Well, darling, 5 pence is worth about 7 cents in American money, and 6 pence is worth about 9 cents. So, if you add those together, you've got yourself a whopping 16 cents. Not exactly enough to buy you a fancy latte, but hey, every penny counts!
