Jon Kilopascal wrote in USMA 18633 regarding Roman numerals: > >It doesn't hurt to know them. This way you can read the dates on older >buildings. In post Roman times, I can't see where they were ever used, >other than for dates. Never in math.
The British Exchequer (Ministry of Finance) kept its accounts in Roman numerals. They thought it was easier to add Roman numerals. One simply had to count the Is, Vs, Xs, Ds, Cs, and Ms. The accounts were recorded by cutting notches on wooden tally sticks. The practice was discontinued in 1826 . By that time the tally sticks filled a whole room. In 1834 the room was needed so it was decided to use the tallies as fuel to heat the building. One stove was overloaded and it set fire to the building which was destroyed. Joseph B.Reid 17 Glebe Road West Toronto M5P 1C8 TEL. 416-486-6071
