quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I’m L years old, and I know them.

I'm LV so yes as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Keystoner:
Why do some clocks have IIII?

That used to bug me when I was a kid: “Hey, you just made us learn that 4 was IV, and now all these clocks have IIII; what’s with that?” We have a clock at home with IIII and I still think of that every time I see it.

Anyway, this thread reminded me that this is the Internet that knows everything, and the below link supposedly explains it, including the need for symmetry on clock faces and fact that the subtraction convention (e.g. IV for 4, IX for 9, etc.) wasn’t universal.

https://www.facebook.com/notes...ead-ii/433524526255/

quote:

Originally posted by Keystoner:
Why do some clocks have IIII?

As I recall, it's because the letters "IV" - the Roman numerals for "4" - had a separate meaning in Latin. I think it was an abbreviation for something with religious overtones? Now, I've got to check.

Yep. It was the start of the Latin way to spell Jupiter, their supreme god. https://monochrome-watches.com...-iiii-instead-of-iv/

quote:

Originally posted by OldChimney:
Years are pretty easy. How many can express their birthday, or a current date, in Roman numerals?

It's not hard to express numbers with Roman numerals.
MMXX - that's this year. How hard was that?

What's hard is doing math with them. The modern Arabic numbering system is much easier for calculation, which is why Roman numerals went the way of the Dodo.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I’m L years old, and I know them.

I'm LXXXII -- I know them, too.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by Rustyblade:
LXLX

I don't think that computes. Did you mean LXIX?

flashguy

Photo taken on last year's visit to Vienna, Austria:

Being LIX years of age, I still remember being taught Roman Numerals.

No, they were not the only number system being taught way back then.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:

quote:

Scio me numero

One can know their Roman numerals without knowing their Latin, apparently.

I know my Roman Numerals from the Super Bowl.

This year I will be LIV.

Try doing simple addition with a column of Roman numerals.

I'm LXIV but the damn computer says I'm 1000000.

quote:

Originally posted by yanici:
Try doing simple addition with a column of Roman numerals.

Even better, try multiplication and division.

flashguy

LI here. Had to learn them also. I'm going to ask my XIX year old daughter if she knows them tonight.

I'm XL years old...but if I told people "I'm XL" they'd think I was a big guy (which I'm not)!

septuāgintā duo...LXXII.

These aren't that bad, but the Roman fractions are S baked.

They counted in twelfths. So the other half could also be :::

As a grade schooler we had to learn them and understand their order. I'm not sure the children today have a clue about them. It's ancient history. Much like morse code.

Trying to do arithmetic with them is a wonderful way to emphasize just how much more convenient the Aribic numeral system is!

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
I’m LXI yrs old

LX here.

I taught RN to my boys, but I doubt they remember. I'll Have to ask. The younger two take Latin, so they probably still know them, at least the basics.