answersLogoWhite

0

Simply because there are rules defining how you interpret the way the numbers are written. For example the number 6 in Roman numerals is VI - meaning you add 1 to 5. The number 4 is IV - since the 1 is less than 5 you subtract it.

In a larger number there can be different ways to write it - for example 1999 can be written as MIM which is 1000 + (1000-1) OR MCMXCIX which is 1000+(1000-100)+(100-10)+(10-1)

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?