On most clock faces the Roman numeral 4 is displayed as 4 strokes when it should read lV. Why is this. I realise that you would have the letter V three times on the dial of the clock, but this is no excuse, as the letter X is three times on the Dial. 9-10-11 etc.. answers please.....
2006-08-28 05:24:18 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Check out Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_numerals#IIII_or_IV.3F for some insights.
2006-08-28 05:29:28 · answer #1 · answered by wysely 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roman numeral for 4 was originally "IIII," as the Roman numeral for 9 was originally "VIIII." Orginally, all numerals were added as opposed to now being added or subtracted based on position. The reason this changed was that in ancient Rome, when poeple carved onto plaques or statues, it was significantly easier and less tedius to carve "IV" instead of "IIII" or "IX" instead of "VIIII."
2006-08-28 05:32:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be display either way. IIII is the same as IV. The latter is just a shortened version (two characters in stead of four)
2006-08-28 05:30:40 · answer #3 · answered by limgrn_maria 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no idea, but the letter X should be there 4 times(9,10,11,12), and V there 5 times(4,5,6,7,8), and there should be 17 I's
hope this helps a bit!
2006-08-28 05:30:37 · answer #4 · answered by fatbadge 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not old roman, but old English
2006-08-28 05:30:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good Question...one I never thought much about...thanks for giving me something to ask my friends.
2006-08-28 05:27:22 · answer #6 · answered by 77 snoodles 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like you may have a defective clock....
2006-08-28 05:30:06 · answer #7 · answered by Andy FF1,2,CrTr,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check on ask.com
2006-08-29 23:24:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋