the.com/numeral
A number's costume — the digits are the mask, not the face.
means A figure or symbol (like 7 or VII) used to represent a number.
from From Latin 'numerus' meaning 'number,' passing through medieval Latin 'numeralis.' The root is ancient and widespread, likely connected to a very old Indo-European base having to do with distributing or allotting — the idea that numbers began as a way of dividing things up among people.
- vs number
- number is the idea, numeral is the symbol
- roman flex
- iv avoids iiii for readability, not logic
- zero latecomer
- many systems had no symbol for nothing
- same value
- 7, vii, and 111 in binary all agree