If you’ve ever seen ancient buildings, inscriptions or movies, you have probably stumbled upon numbers written in a very unusual way like XXII, XXIII, XVIII, IX. These numbers are known as Roman numerals and are still used today, often for decoration and also to number chapters and pages of books. So, what exactly are Roman numerals and how do we read and write them? In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at understanding Roman numerals.
These are all Roman numerals, which represent the numbers 22, 23, 18, and 9 respectively. Roman numerals are an ancient system of numerical notation used in ancient Rome and throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. The use of Roman numerals is declining in modern times because they are complicated to calculate and read.
Roman numerals are still occasionally used in Western culture. They can be seen frequently in book titles and on building facades, but all-number signs are preferred. Movies and other films often display the credit information in Roman numerals so that the audience is not able to tell the release date of the movie. This number system is also useful in identifying hundreds of years of history. The world famous clock in London, Big Ben, is identified by the Roman numerical clock-face 4, 5, 3 and finally 2 as IX, X, V and II.
- Roman content can be written either from left to right or from right to left.
- The Roman numeral system is not suitable for many arithmetic operations.
- It is still used in various aspects for nostalgia-based purposes.
- Monarchical dynasties or leaders in various countries are often identified with Roman numerals.
- Roman numerals are also widely used in musical notes for its notation.
From their mysterious beginnings in 753 B.C. to present day applications, Roman numerals certainly have a unique and fascinating history. Now that you know the basics of XXII, XXIII, XVIII, IX and more, you too can join in the fun of interpreting numerals!