2002-03-09 When I learned Romans numerals, there wasn't much time spent on learning them. It was done in the elementary grade, and all we had to know was the value of the letters and how to assembly the letters and to read them. There was no math done in this numeration system.
>From what I remember, the Romans and ancient people never actually did the math on paper with these numerals. All of the calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division was done with machines. In this case an abacus. Or something similar. The majority of the population could not read or write nor do any form of math, so the complexity of the numeration was a moot point to them. They never had to deal with it. Maybe complex numeration schemes and unit systems are designed deliberately to befuddle the masses, and the masses being dumb, accept the situation rather than demand simplification. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Han Maenen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, 2002-03-09 02:57 Subject: [USMA:18624] Re: Fwd: Even astrologers are at it now!! > As far as I know, pupils in Europe are no longer tormented with Roman > numerals. > > Han > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "M R" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, 2002-03-08 21:55 > Subject: [USMA:18619] Fwd: Even astrologers are at it now!! > > > If "miles" were "most ancient and precious possession", then the old Roman > numerals like > I - 1 > V - 5 > X - 10 > are also precious, do they want to go back to those > numerals. By the way, do the schools in Europe teach > these numerals still. > > Madan >
