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Roman Numerals

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Who else thinks Roman numerals are neat?
I do. 87%  87%  [ 13 ]
Not I. 13%  13%  [ 2 ]
Total votes : 15

CelticRose
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05 Sep 2008, 11:34 pm

iamnotaparakeet wrote:
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VMXI would be how much?


Well, logically it would be 1000-5+10+1=1006, but they probably wouldn't have written anything that convoluted. If they wanted to write 1006 they would just write MVI. They read their numbers left to right just like we do, and they probably wouldn't want to do any complicated math just to say how many bushels of grain they had stored.

The simplest way is usually the best. For example, 1990 can be written MCMXC, but most Romans would have written it as MXM.

Also, those who could read and write were taught to follow a set of rules and conventions, just like we are today. They probably wouldn't have got too creative.


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iamnotaparakeet
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05 Sep 2008, 11:37 pm

The bar above the V represents 10^3.

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VMXI would be 5000+1000+10+1 = 6011



CelticRose
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05 Sep 2008, 11:45 pm

iamnotaparakeet wrote:
The bar above the V represents 10^3.

_
VMXI would be 5000+1000+10+1 = 6011


You're right. Sorry, I'm tired and didn't see the bar. :oops:

I guess I better avoid this thread unless I'm well rested. :lol:


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iamnotaparakeet
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05 Sep 2008, 11:56 pm

CelticRose wrote:
iamnotaparakeet wrote:
The bar above the V represents 10^3.

_
VMXI would be 5000+1000+10+1 = 6011


You're right. Sorry, I'm tired and didn't see the bar. :oops:

I guess I better avoid this thread unless I'm well rested. :lol:


Tis okay. It's easy to misread things.