No, multi-word maths will still work. The only problem is that you have a LOT of work to do to implement it. In fact, using unpacked BCD (which is what you suggested, storing a single digit in one byte is unpacked BCD...) may be more difficult than using multi-word maths. The problem you have is writing a routine to convert a multi-word binary to a displayable decimal number, which is why you may want to use unpacked BCD. However once you've got the conversion routine licked, I suggest you use multi-word binary representation, especially since unpacked BCD can be s--- slow. "Information has a tendency to be free. Which means someone will always tell you something you don't want to know."