This song is available on Harry Guffee's Got Math? This is also available as a Downloadable Song with Lyrics.
The lilting melody of the flute accompanies the explanation of how many centuries ago, in the days of the Roman Empire, letters of the alphabet were used as symbols for counting numbers.
Many centuries ago, in the days of the Roman Empire,
People used the letters of the alphabet as symbols for counting.
The letter I is a symbol for one, V for five, and X for ten
Chorus:
I, II, III numerals
IV, V, VI numerals
VII, VIII, IX numerals
X little Roman numerals
Other Roman numerals are formed
By adding the value of the symbols
III is three, VI is six
A smaller symbol on the left of a larger is being subtracted;
IX equals nine.
Chorus
The other Roman numerals are L, C, D, and M
The symbols for 50, 100, 500 and 1,000
When a horizontal line is placed above a Roman numeral
The value of that numeral is multiplied by one thousand
Chorus
This song is available on Harry Guffee's Got Math? This is also available as a Downloadable Song with Lyrics.
