Great Gross (gr-gr) to Bakers Dozen (bk-doz) conversion

What is great gross?

Great Gross is a rather uncommon unit of quantity, mainly used historically in commerce and inventory management. Let's explore its definition, formation, and some examples.

Defining Great Gross

A great gross is a unit of quantity equal to 12 gross, or 144 dozens, or 1728 individual items. It is primarily used when dealing with large quantities of small items.

Formation of Great Gross

The great gross is formed through successive groupings:

• 12 items = 1 dozen
• 12 dozens = 1 gross (144 items)
• 12 gross = 1 great gross (1728 items)

Thus, a great gross represents a significantly larger quantity than a gross or a dozen.

Common Usage & Examples

While not as common today due to the adoption of more standardized units and digital inventory systems, great gross was historically used for items sold in bulk:

• Buttons: A haberdasher might order buttons in great gross quantities to ensure they had enough for various clothing projects.
• Screws/Nails: A hardware store could purchase small screws or nails in great gross to stock shelves.
• Pencils: A large school district might order pencils in great gross for the entire year.
• Small Toys: A toy manufacturer might produce small toys in great gross quantities for distribution.

Historical Significance and Laws

While there isn't a specific "law" directly tied to the great gross unit, its use highlights historical trade practices and inventory management techniques. There aren't any famous people directly associated with "Great Gross." Its significance is rooted in the pre-metric system era where base-12 calculations were prevalent. These concepts came from ancient Sumaria and Babylonia.

Modern Relevance

Today, while great gross might not be a common term, the concept of bulk ordering remains relevant. Businesses still consider quantity discounts and economies of scale when purchasing supplies, even if they are measuring those quantities in different units.

Volume Calculation

If you were to calculate the volume of items in great gross you could use following formula

$V_{greatgross} = N * V_{singleitem}$

Where:

$V_{greatgross}$ is volume of the items in great gross $N = 1728$ the number of items in Great Gross $V_{singleitem}$ is the volume of a single item

What is a Baker's Dozen?

A baker's dozen is a group of 13 items, most commonly baked goods. It originates from medieval England and was created to avoid being penalized for selling short weight of a dozen of bread.

Origin and History

Avoiding Penalties

During medieval times, bakers could face severe penalties for shortchanging their customers. To avoid accidentally selling a dozen items that were underweight, bakers would add an extra item to ensure they met the required weight, protecting themselves from fines or other punishments.

Laws and Regulations

There isn't a specific "law" mandating baker's dozens. It was more of a customary practice that became ingrained in the trade to adhere to regulations related to weights and measures.

Why 13?

The number 13 may seem arbitrary, but it served the practical purpose of providing a buffer to avoid underweight sales. The tradition stuck around, eventually becoming known as a baker's dozen.

Interesting Facts

• Superstition: Some believe the number 13 has negative connotations, but in this context, it was a safety net for bakers.
• Cultural Significance: The term "baker's dozen" has become a common expression, even outside the world of baking, to denote a group of 13.

Real-World Examples

Common Uses

• Baking: Bakeries often sell donuts, cookies, or rolls in baker's dozens.
• Other Retail: Sometimes, other retailers might offer a "baker's dozen" of items as a promotion or special deal.
• Figurative Use: People use the term colloquially to mean "a little more than a dozen" in various contexts. For example, "I have a baker's dozen of reasons why I love baking."

Examples with Quantities

• If you buy a baker's dozen of bagels, you get 13 bagels.
• A baker's dozen of muffins is 13 muffins.
• If someone says they need a baker's dozen of pencils, they need 13 pencils.