ROMAN

MATHEMATICS
By:
Aiza Adiarte Saguid
Crizamae Hinalong Dulnuan
Cherry Fe Calimag Palangdao
Objectives:
To have knowledge about the history of
mathematics in Rome
To identify the usage of mathematics and
the purpose of Roman Numerals
To show the contributions of the Romans
to the people, definitions and facts
Table of Contents
Brief history of Roman mathematics
The Roman Numerals
The Rules for Writing Roman Numerals
and the operations of Addition and
Subtraction
Zero in Roman Mathematics
The Abacus
Roman Calendar and Horologia
Mathematics teaching in Rome
BRIEF HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS
By the middle of the 1st Century BCE, the
Roman had lightened their grip on the old Greek
and Hellenistic empires, and the mathematical
revolution of the Greeks ground to halt.
The Romans were the dominant empire on
earth.
However, No mathematical innovations
occurred under the Roman Empire and
Republic, and there were no mathematicians of
note.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ROMANS
ON TODAY’S MATHEMATICS?
ROMAN NUMERALS
 Roman numerals was  Romans used Roman
originated in ancient Rome. Numerals for trading and
This ancient counting system commerce.
is believed to have started with
the ancient Etruscans.
 Roman numerals were
developed so that the Romans
could easily price different
goods and services.
ROMAN NUMERALS
Roman numerals are written as
combinations of seven letters.
◦ I -1
◦ V–5
◦ X – 10
◦ L – 50
◦ C – 100
◦ D – 500
◦ M – 1000
ROMAN NUMERALS
The letters should be arranged from
largest to smallest. Unless it must show a
lesser numeral e.g. IV = 4, IL = 49
1510 is written MDX, largest to smallest.
Only powers of ten can be repeated.
Don’t repeat a letter more than three
times in a row.
100 is written C, not XXXXXXXXXX
(too many repeats).
ROMAN ADDITION
Rules:
• Convert subtractive prefixes to normal (Eg: IV
= IIII; IX = VIIII).
• Concatenate both the numbers (in descending
order).
• Do normal sums like (IIIII = V but don’ t write
IIII = IV; VV = X).
• Final answer should be in subtractive prefixes
if required. (Final answer should not have
VIIII, convert to IX).
 Example:
 - 106 + 94

= CVI + XCIV
= CVI + LXXXXIIII (Rule 1)
= CLXXXXVIIIII (Rule 2)
= CLXXXXVV (Rule 3)
= CLL (Rule 3)
= CC (Rule 3)
= 200
ROMAN SUBSTRACTION
Rules
◦ Convert subtractive prefixes to normal (Eg; IV =
IIII; IX = VIIII)
◦ Remove common symbols (VIII – IIII = V – I)
◦ No number should be present after – sign, else
keep writing number present before – sign
normally (CXXX – VII; Expand one X and
remove common symbols, if still number is
present after – then repeat it else stop).
◦ Final answer should be in subtractive prefixes if
required.
 Example:
• 203 – 94
= CCIII – XCIV
= CCIII – LXXXXIIII (Rule 1)
= CC – LXXXXI (Rule 2)
= CLXXXXX – LXXXXI (Rule 3)
= CX – I (Rule 2)
= CVIIIII – I (Rule 3)
= CVIIII (Rule 2)
= CIX (Rule 4)
ZERO IN ROMAN MATHEMATICS
Itis believed that there was zero in
Roman BUT it has no roman numeral.
The digit Zero is only use in positional
number system such as decimal. The
number Zero has no use in term of writing
and mathematics operation.
But the representation of zero orally it is
called nulla or nihil which means none in
Latin.
THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF
ROMAN NUMERALS
There are several theories as to how the ancient Etruscan and
Roman numerals were designed the way they were. One
leading theory was that they derived from the tally sticks used
by shepherds to count their cattle. The shepherds used to cut
notches in their sticks, thus I became a single unit, every fifth
(V) was a double-cut, and every tenth (X) a cross-cut.

The other main theory was that they were references to hand
signals, with I, II, III, IIII corresponding to single fingers; V
was demonstrated with the thumb out and fingers together. The
numbers 6 to 9 were represented by using a V with one hand
and I, II, III or IIII with the other hand, while 10 (X) was
represented by crossing the thumbs.
THE ABACUS
 TheRoman Abacus  It is believed to be the
which was developed by first portable calculating
Ancient Romans is a device for engineers,
portable and base-10 merchants, and tax
version of earlier collectors.
abacuses like Greeks and
Babylonians.
Roman calendars and mathematics
SUNDIAL
CLEPSYDRAE
JULIAN CALENDAR
HOROLOGIA
The term for general Clock in Roman that
follows 12 hours of light and 12 hours of
darkness.
In Roman Horologia, the term ante
meridiem designated the time “before the
middle of the day”.
Post meridiem is the time “after the
middle of the day”.
TWO FORMS OF HOROLOGIA

A. Solaria (Sundial)
- also called the Shadow
Clock
- makes use of the Sun as the
source for telling the time
- introduced to Rome by the
third century B.C.
- NOTE: Solaria is reliable
but not perfect for telling time
before. It needed adjustment.
Famous Solaria in
Rome
It was erected by
Emperor Augustus
on the Campus
Martius in 9 B.C.
B. Clepsydrae - these also needed
seasonal adjustment, but
(Water clock) they could be used at night
- Clepsydra or water because they didn't require
clock do not need sunlight sunlight.
to tell time. - Beside being a time,
this also became the timer
for oracle, brothel, and to
military.
 An example of this high –end
‘time piece’ is the Tower of the
Winds in Roman Agora of
Athens, also known as the
Horologion of Andronicus,
which was built in the first
century B.C.
ROMAN CALENDAR
 Borrowed some earliest
calendar in Greek.  Numa Pompilius was the
 The first and the earliest legendary second king of
Roman Calendar was Rome and added January
introduced by the first and February to the calendar
Emperor of Roman empire, which made it to 355 days.
Romulus, in 700s B.C.E.
 It had 10 months only
named, Martius, Aprilis,
Maius, Junius, Quintilis,
Sextilis, September, October,
November, and December
-------304 days.
JULIAN CALENDAR
Gauis Julius Caesar
◦ Developed the Julian Calendar

In 45 B.C.E., Julian Calendar was made to keep track in marking time
with the seasons without extra month. It is a solar calendar based
entirely on Earth’s revolutions around the Sun, also called a tropical
year.
The Julian Calendar also introduced LEAP YEAR. Every four years is
a leap year.
At the time, February was the last month of the year, and the Leap Day
was February 24.
The Julian Calendar was very useful in the anc4ient Rome. It changed
the Roman Calendar to more civilized and in connection with the
movement of the earth to the sun.
 The problem had  In the modern times,
happened was that the Julian Calendar is used to
Julian calendar had too provide the dates of feasts
many leap year that made and many more.
it out of sync. Eventually
the Julian calendar and
important religious
holidays, like Easter were
several days out of sync
with the fixed dates for
astronomical events like
equinoxes and solstices.
MATHEMATICS TEACHING IN
ANCIENT ROME
The Roman educational system was very similar to
the Greek’s but had certain differences.
The Roman used Applied Mathematics- it is used in
physics and engineering.
They are learned mostly for Practical purposes lie
trade and commerce.
Roman children were taught at home until about the
age of twelve like the Greek. And beyond 12, they
progress to a school of Literature and acquired more
lessons adding of what they have learned at school.
The boys were mostly to study special mathematics
based on their occupations.