Culture & Civilization | Roman Numbers Flashcards
What are the “modern” Roman numerals we use today?
The ancient Roman system, adapted from the Etruscans, was modified somewhat during the Middle Ages, giving us the “modern” Roman numerals we use today. Letters are used as symbols for numbers.
I = 1
V = 5
X = 10
L = 50
C = 100 (centum)
D = 500
M = 1000 (mille)
How are other types of numbers formed in the Roman numeral system?
These symbols are combined to produce the various numbers. The ancient Roman system was additive. The number 4 was simply IIII. In order to relieve the length and repetitiveness of numbers such as this, a few subtractive numbers eventually came into use, in which the first element is subtracted from the second. Thus the number 4 became IV (5 minus 1).*
I = 1
II = 2
III = 3
IV = 4
V = 5
VI = 6
VII = 7
VIII = 8
IX = 9
X = 10
XX = 20
XXX = 30
XL = 40
L = 50
LX = 60
LXX = 70
LXXX = 80
XC -= 90
*In practice, there are only six of these subtractive numbers: IV, IX, XL, XC, CD, CM. A number can only be used to subtract from the two higher numbers. Thus 19 is XCIX, not IC. The multiples of five (V, L, D) are not used for subtractive numbers.
How were very large numbers written, and was there a symbol for zero? How was computation done?
Very large numbers were written with a bar overheads, indicating multiplication by 1000. There ws no symbol for zero. Roman numerals were used only for notation. Computation was done on the abacus, a manual computing device consisting of a frame holding parallel rods strung with movable counters.
