Roman Numerals
Roman numerals, in some peoples opinions, would be easy to change to and most or some people at least understand them. However, when we looked into it, there is more to simplicity, you would need to figure out a whole new way to subtract and multiply, add and divide. As we are sure that everyone reading this site (Queenwood Senior School) already knows the basics of roman numerals we will begin with what we think and how we feel about Australia changing its number system and also convince you why we shouldn't change it.
Pros:
- Roman Numerals are quite easy to learn and are a part of the learning curriculum so it may be fairly convenient if we did have to change Australia's number system.
- They are part of an ancient culture in the world and contain vital history that might otherwise be lost.
- Many find that Australia needs something to define itself, so why not a different number system to everyone else?!
- They are part of an ancient culture in the world and contain vital history that might otherwise be lost.
- Many find that Australia needs something to define itself, so why not a different number system to everyone else?!
Cons:
- It would be extremely hard to actually change Australia's number system.
- Addition is hard to perform if roman numerals were our number system as we would have to change our addition symbol as it is not classified as part of the Roman Numeral number system so we would need to change that to their symbol. Though there is also another symbol that the romans had come up with where they would combine two or more numbers to create a bigger one though this is no longer taught in school curriculum so it would be hard for all of Australia to change and learn it.
- Subtraction would also need another symbol as well as addition unless we would be able to use the Hindu-Arabic one. But then again the romans also did have a way to subtract a few numbers though again it would still be quite a challenge to change it.
- Multiplication is a bit different though as they would usually just do many addition sums instead but based on evidence they did know how to multiply certain numbers.
- Division works in quite the same way as multiplication. They would do it with certain numbers and they also had symbols for it although it has changed over the many years.
- Place Value is rather different than the Hindu-Arabic number system as for roman numerals depending on whether it is above or below 5 (V) or 10 (X), the place value will vary. Such as 4 = IV (one before five) and 6 = VI (one after five) so the place value has changed and 9 = IX and 11 = XI, so it would be extremely difficult and challenging.
- Addition is hard to perform if roman numerals were our number system as we would have to change our addition symbol as it is not classified as part of the Roman Numeral number system so we would need to change that to their symbol. Though there is also another symbol that the romans had come up with where they would combine two or more numbers to create a bigger one though this is no longer taught in school curriculum so it would be hard for all of Australia to change and learn it.
- Subtraction would also need another symbol as well as addition unless we would be able to use the Hindu-Arabic one. But then again the romans also did have a way to subtract a few numbers though again it would still be quite a challenge to change it.
- Multiplication is a bit different though as they would usually just do many addition sums instead but based on evidence they did know how to multiply certain numbers.
- Division works in quite the same way as multiplication. They would do it with certain numbers and they also had symbols for it although it has changed over the many years.
- Place Value is rather different than the Hindu-Arabic number system as for roman numerals depending on whether it is above or below 5 (V) or 10 (X), the place value will vary. Such as 4 = IV (one before five) and 6 = VI (one after five) so the place value has changed and 9 = IX and 11 = XI, so it would be extremely difficult and challenging.
Conclusion
So for the reasons above, roman numerals should not be Australia's new number system as obviously, the cons have outweighed the pros!