Roman numerals

Roman numerals stem from the numeral system of ancient Rome. They are based on certain letters of the alphabet which are combined to signify the sum (or, in some cases, the difference) of their values. The first ten Roman numerals are: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X.

The Roman numeral system is decimal but not directly positional and does not include a zero. It is a cousin of the Etruscan numerals, and the letters derive from earlier non-alphabetical symbols; over time the Romans came to identify the symbols with letters of the Latin alphabet. The system was modified slightly during the Middle Ages to produce the system used today.

Roman numerals are commonly used in numbered lists (such as the outline format of an article), clock faces, pages preceding the main body of a book, chord triads in music analysis, dated notices of copyright, months of the year, successive political leaders or children with identical names, and the numbering of annual events.

At Hogwarts when writing letters they use Roman numerals, for example when giving points for tricks done in Quidditch.

Appearances

 * Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4