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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Roman_numerals
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An ancient European number system using
symbols different from Arabic numerals (the
ordinary numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on).
The seven key symbols in Roman numerals, as
represented today, are I (1), V (5), X (10),
L (50), C (100), D (500) and M (1,000). There
is no zero, and therefore no place-value as
is fundamental to the Arabic system. The
first ten Roman numerals are I, II, III, IV
(or IIII), V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X. When
a Roman symbol is preceded by a symbol of
equal or greater value, the values of the
sybols are added (XVI = 16). When a symbol is
preceded by a symbol of less value, the
values are subtracted (XL = 40). A horizontal
bar over a symbol indicates a factor of 1,000
(X = 10,000). Although addition and
subtraction are fairly straightforward using
Roman numerals, the absence of a zero makes
other arithmetic calculations (such as
multiplication) clumsy and difficult.
Although their role in mathematics is long
obsolete, Roman numerals continue to enjoy a
limited use as inscribed figures (for
example, on timepiece faces, in the
pagination of written material, or as dates
on buildings or motion pictures).