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In this activity, we are going to have a go at telling the time on clocks using Roman numerals!

 

The numbers that we use today are not the same as the ones the Romans used.

Roman numerals were used all over the Roman Empire.

 

Roman soldier

 

In England, they are still used occasionally, for example, on film credits and clock faces.

 

   clock with numbers              clock with Roman numerals

 

Notice that you have to turn your head to read the Roman numerals on this clock face!

 

Remember that the Romans didn't have a symbol for the number 0.

 

You should know the following:

 

1 I  
2 II  
3 III  
4 IV I before V is 1 less than 5
5 V  
6 VI I after V is 1 more than 5
7 VII II after V is 2 more than 5
8 VIII III after V is 3 more than 5
9 IX I before X is 1 less than 10
10 X  
11 XI I after X is 1 more than 10
12 XII II after X is 2 more than 10

10 questions