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Roman numerals....why?? - Page 2

post #21 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by waiflywaif View Post
This kind of question always bugs me. Why do you have to use something in your "everyday life" for it to be worth learning or knowing? I believe in learning for its own sake. Because it's fun.
I actually had the impression that most people who replied said that Roman numerals are worth learning for the sake of learning as well as giving some examples of them in everyday life. The examples given of their usefulness weren't all that convincing either, yet people still think them worth knowing.

Now, go learn the names of all the characters on The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack. The theme song too, for some bonus learning and fun.

eta: just in case it wasn't clear, I was just kidding with that last part
post #22 of 37
True, that's what most people said and I agree (obviously). But it's not what the OP asked.
post #23 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by laundrycrisis View Post
They also helped me appreciate how much easier it is to do math in our base ten numeric system, than in Roman numerals !


I find the historical aspect of how we moved to using Arabic numbers instead of Roman numerals interesting. There was no "zero" for place holding with Roman numerals, and yes, bookkeeping would have been a nightmare using the Roman numeral system.
post #24 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Needle in the Hay View Post
I actually had the impression that most people who replied said that Roman numerals are worth learning for the sake of learning as well as giving some examples of them in everyday life. The examples given of their usefulness weren't all that convincing either, yet people still think them worth knowing.
I work in a field (I am a software developer within civil/traffic engineering) where much of our documentation/requirements documents are heavily outlined, and almost always contain the use of Roman numerals. So I use my understanding of at least 1-10 in roman numerals on a daily basis.
post #25 of 37
....because you won't be confused when trying to read a Super Bowl title.
post #26 of 37
why not?
I don't use japanese in daiy life but its sure fun to learn neither do I use poker everyday or ride my bike.
Why does their need to be a very specifick reason to learn/understand something
post #27 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by mum21andtwins View Post
why not?
I don't use japanese in daiy life but its sure fun to learn neither do I use poker everyday or ride my bike.
Why does their need to be a very specifick reason to learn/understand something
Lots of languages are fun to learn so why not learn all of them? You could start learning another one today. I think you should learn Greek.

I think you do need a specific reason to learn or understand something and usually that reason is that you find it worthwhile. I actually don't think the OP can decide that for her kids.

I very much doubt the OP is only interested in learning or having her kids learn things that are used daily! She read something that said one of her children should be learning Roman numerals now (I'm guessing it was something like a What Your ____ Grader Should Know type of book) and she questioned that.

I think you come across Roman numerals enough that it's easy to pass on that knowledge to your kids, you just discuss it as it comes up, it doesn't need to be a lesson from a book. It doesn't need to be something you learn just for the sake of learning.
post #28 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Needle in the Hay View Post
Lots of languages are fun to learn so why not learn all of them? You could start learning another one today. I think you should learn Greek.
Erm ok no need for the tone (fwiw I speak 8 languages and am learning a new one right now for no real reason except that I want to which is how imho all learning so happen).

I was trying to understand why the op needs a reason for her children to learn (or not learn) roman numerals. the way the question was posted sounded odd to me. I merely mentioned japanese poker and riding a bike to make the point that I know lots of things that I don't use in daily life ( or regularly even) since that appears to be the main reason for questioning the need to know roman numerals.
post #29 of 37
never mind.

Quote:
I think you should learn Greek.
But on another note, I did! In college, though. It was awesome.
post #30 of 37
I think learning something just because other people know it is sometimes a good reason. Yes, it may be arbitrary and a little silly that most people have a passing familiarity with Psalm 23 and not Psalm 22 (which I happen to think is a much cooler psalm): but if you don't have the time or inclination to teach your kids every psalm in the book/chapter in the Bible/religious text in the world, why not go with the one that is used/referenced most often in society, to save your kids the embarrassment of not knowing something most other people know? Or, to choose a secular example: I don't have the time or inclination to teach DD how to say a few words in every language under the sun, but I'll teach her to say a few in Maori. That doesn't mean I think Maori is a "better" language than, say, Swahili, but it's more relevant to our lives and frankly, people will think she's somewhat dim if she can't respond approprately to "Kia ora" or "Haere mai".

I think Roman numerals come under the category of Stuff People Know, and it'd be doing your kids a disservice not to teach them without a good reason. They do pop up here and there - plus, they're fun for developing logic and math skills, and are a good precursor to algebra (showing if a number can be written as V instead of 5, it can also be represented by another symbol such as an X).

In other words, I think the "all random facts are created equal" line is specious. Most people don't know Greek, so your child is unlikely to be disadvantaged by sharing that ignorance. Most people do know how to use Roman numerals, so your child may be disadvantaged by not knowing them.

Plus, they're fun and easy. I taught a five-year-old with autism how to use them and he thought they were the coolest thing ever.
post #31 of 37
Ditton what everyone said. Even speaking as a former web programmer, an ordered list can be ordered by Roman numerals.

Here's a more complete list of modern usage:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_n...s#Modern_usage
post #32 of 37
Because it makes creating an outline for organizing information easier. And believe it or not I do create outlines and view them often in my carreer.
post #33 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by waiflywaif View Post
This kind of question always bugs me. Why do you have to use something in your "everyday life" for it to be worth learning or knowing? I believe in learning for its own sake. Because it's fun.
I agree! But I can totally identify with this sentiment, as well:

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Late2BCreative View Post
I took a look at a book today that has lessons for learning Roman Numerals...and I went "Ugh...I don't want to do this today!".....then of course thought "Why does it need to be done anyways??".....this is really speaking to my mood today...lol.
post #34 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokering View Post
I think learning something just because other people know it is sometimes a good reason. Yes, it may be arbitrary and a little silly that most people have a passing familiarity with Psalm 23 and not Psalm 22 (which I happen to think is a much cooler psalm): but if you don't have the time or inclination to teach your kids every psalm in the book/chapter in the Bible/religious text in the world, why not go with the one that is used/referenced most often in society, to save your kids the embarrassment of not knowing something most other people know? Or, to choose a secular example: I don't have the time or inclination to teach DD how to say a few words in every language under the sun, but I'll teach her to say a few in Maori. That doesn't mean I think Maori is a "better" language than, say, Swahili, but it's more relevant to our lives and frankly, people will think she's somewhat dim if she can't respond approprately to "Kia ora" or "Haere mai".

I think Roman numerals come under the category of Stuff People Know, and it'd be doing your kids a disservice not to teach them without a good reason. They do pop up here and there - plus, they're fun for developing logic and math skills, and are a good precursor to algebra (showing if a number can be written as V instead of 5, it can also be represented by another symbol such as an X).

In other words, I think the "all random facts are created equal" line is specious. Most people don't know Greek, so your child is unlikely to be disadvantaged by sharing that ignorance. Most people do know how to use Roman numerals, so your child may be disadvantaged by not knowing them.

Plus, they're fun and easy. I taught a five-year-old with autism how to use them and he thought they were the coolest thing ever.


Well said! But I'm a big fan of the cultural literacy/core knowledge movement too. :-)
post #35 of 37
Quote:
Leraning a new thing is always good. They are not that hard so really why not.
Yep. My 4 yo *loves* the concept. My dad reads aloud to my kids every evening, and many of the books have their chapters marked with Roman numerals. It's become a game for him to read out the letters and see if they can figure out what number it is.

Why learn them
-good re-inforcement of number sense and logic
-they're not totally obsolete, especially if you're going for a very well-rounded education which would include the classics, or going into a career where they're still used regularly
-useful in creating outlines (though I never got past V on my outlines )
-I always wished I could read the year of publishing when reading books from the first half of the 20th century. Some have regular dates, but others used Roman numerals and I found that incredibly frustrating for some reason.
post #36 of 37
Coz they're cool! And oh so aesthetically pleasing.

Plus, your kid will feel really smart when he/she sees them in real life and is able to read them.

Roman numerals are just another fun part of math history that is still a part of our modern lives.

Just for fun and there's something fulfilling about it, too.

***about the lesson in a book part and just not wanting to do it, can't find the quote now went thru the thread fast***
We did them with sidewalk chalk around the park. We took turns hiding them from each other and finding them; then we'd look for smth in nature that represented the #; we also drew relevant sidewalk pictures like a square for IV, triangle for III. It was really fun. We'll revisit it again later on down the road.
post #37 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by mum21andtwins View Post
Erm ok no need for the tone (fwiw I speak 8 languages and am learning a new one right now for no real reason except that I want to which is how imho all learning so happen).
Oh, there was definitely not any tone, I assure you! I was having fun with this thread. The "just learn it to learn something" argument falls apart very easily because there are just so many things one can learn and what's useful and good to one person may be of no interest to another. Very cool about learning the languages, I enjoy learning languages too.
[/QUOTE]

Quote:
Originally Posted by waiflywaif View Post

But on another note, I did! In college, though. It was awesome.
Very cool about learning Greek. My DH studied it and really liked it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokering View Post
I think learning something just because other people know it is sometimes a good reason.
ITA!
Quote:
In other words, I think the "all random facts are created equal" line is specious. Most people don't know Greek, so your child is unlikely to be disadvantaged by sharing that ignorance. Most people do know how to use Roman numerals, so your child may be disadvantaged by not knowing them.
I agree with this too and I was most assuredly not making the argument that all random facts are equal! I was trying to make the opposite point, actually. The "just do it because learning is good" line is what seems to be making no distinction and I was saying that if learning is the only goal then why not go learn Greek or about silly cartoons.
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