How Did Anyone Do Math in Roman Numerals?

Re:How Did Anyone Do Math in Roman Numerals? by Spivak on Friday July 21, 2017 @12:24PM (#14821738)

Because if you don't memorize your 'primitive' algebraic rules you'll end up just doing a pullback with roman numerals in the middle. Integers don't have any values, they're mathematical objects with certain properties. Asking about 'the value of 5' doesn't make sense unless you're trying to convert to another, already known, number system.

What is 2 + 5? Well 2 is II and 5 is V which is IIIII. So then we have IIIIIII which is (IIIII)II or VII which is 7.

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Re:How Did Anyone Do Math in Roman Numerals? by GenWintergreen on Friday July 21, 2017 @02:06PM (#14822582)

I just want to point out that it's humorously appropriate for a user named "Spivak" to mention pullbacks.

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