Name two properties that the Roman system has that the Hindu Arabic system did not have.
The Roman numeral system and the Hindu-Arabic numeral system are two different ways of representing numbers. While the Hindu-Arabic system is the one predominantly used today, the Roman numeral system has unique properties that set it apart. Here are two properties of the Roman numeral system that the Hindu-Arabic system does not have:
1. Use of Letters: The Roman numeral system employs letters to represent numbers. Specifically, the letters I, V, X, L, C, D, and M are used to represent the numbers 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000, respectively. This property allows for a concise and symbolic representation of numbers.
2. Non-Positional System: Unlike the Hindu-Arabic system, which is a positional numeral system, the Roman numeral system is non-positional. In the Hindu-Arabic system, the position of a digit in a number determines its value (e.g., the number 753 has a 7 in the hundreds place and a 3 in the units place). In contrast, the Roman system does not depend on position. Instead, the value of a Roman numeral is derived from the combination and order of letters used.
To convert numbers between the Roman and Hindu-Arabic systems, you can use various methods such as memorizing the Roman numeral equivalents or using conversion charts. Additionally, there are online converters or smartphone apps available that can quickly convert numbers between these systems.