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What is the Roman numeral for 4?
A. IIII
B. IV
C. VI
D. IX
Correct Answer Is Option = IV
Notes / Explanation
The Roman numeral for the number four is written as IV, and this is a good example of the subtraction rule used in the ancient Roman system of writing numbers. In the Roman system, certain letters stand for particular values, with a letter for one and a letter for five among the basic letters, and numbers are written by combining these letters according to fixed rules of addition and subtraction. Generally, when a letter of smaller value is placed after a letter of larger or equal value, the values are added together, but when a letter of smaller value is placed before a letter of larger value, the smaller value is subtracted from the larger. The number four is written using this subtraction rule, by placing the letter for one before the letter for five, so that the one is subtracted from the five, giving five minus one, which is four, and this is written as IV. This is the correct and compact form according to the rules of the system, rather than writing the letter for one four times. It is interesting to note, however, that on the faces of some clocks and watches that use Roman numerals, the number four is sometimes written as the letter for one repeated four times, rather than in the usual subtractive form, as a matter of tradition or appearance, but the standard and correct form according to the rules of the system is the subtractive form. The number one, two and three are written by repeating the letter for one, but for four the subtraction rule is used, and similarly the number nine is written by placing the letter for one before the letter for ten. The subtraction rule is used in a number of cases in the Roman system to avoid repeating a letter too many times. Understanding this rule is important for reading and writing Roman numerals correctly. The Roman numerals survive in many uses today, such as on clocks, in the names of rulers and popes, in the numbering of chapters and events, and in dates on buildings. For PPSC and other competitive examinations, the key points to remember are that the Roman numeral for four is IV, that this uses the subtraction rule by placing the letter for one before the letter for five so that one is subtracted from five, that this is the standard and correct form, though on some clock faces four is traditionally written as the letter for one repeated four times, and that the subtraction rule is used to avoid repeating a letter too many times.
