Fractional Aid

British farmers who want government funds to help them buy feed for livestock must fill out an application form. The form is self-explanatory--in a bureaucratic sort of way. "A grant, not exceeding 10% of the cost of rationed feeding stuffs," it assures the applicant, "may be paid under the [following] scheme:

"The fraction of 10% payable is normally worked out by relating the coupon tonnage, b, issued for the year ended 30th April, 1950, to the acreage of the holding (excluding rough grazings), a, in the fraction b/(a + b). For example, if the coupon tonnage were 9 and the acreage 6, the fraction would be 9/(6+9)= 3/5 and the rate of grant would be 3/5 of 10% = 6%. Where, however, the fraction is less than 1/4 i.e., where the rate of grant would be less than 2 and 1/2%, no grant will be paid."

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