Roman numerals

Author: Leandro Alegsa

13-11-2022

Roman numerals are a numeral system that was used by ancient Rome. Numbers in this system use letters from the Latin alphabet. Currently, it uses seven symbols:

The Europeans still used Roman numerals even after the fall of the Roman Empire. From the 14th century, the Europeans replaced Roman numerals with Arabic numerals. However, people still use Roman numerals to this day.

One place in which they are sometimes seen is on clock faces (the front of a clock). For example, on the clock of Big Ben, the hours from 1 to 12 are written as:

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII

The IV and IX can be read as "one less than 5" (4) and "one less than 10" (9). On many clocks that use Roman numerals, however, 4 is written as IIII.

Questions and Answers

Q: What is a numeral system that was used by ancient Rome?

A: Roman numerals.

Q: Which letters are used in the Roman numeral system?

A: Letters from the Latin alphabet.

Q: Did Europeans still use Roman numerals after the fall of the Roman Empire?

A: Yes, they did.

Q: When did the Europeans replace Roman numerals with Arabic numerals?

A: From the 14th century.

Q: Where are Roman numerals sometimes seen nowadays?

A: On clock faces.

Q: How are the hours from 1 to 12 written on the clock of Big Ben?

A: As I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII.

Q: How are the numbers IV and IX read on the clock of Big Ben?

A: As "one less than 5" (4) and "one less than 10" (9).