What's the difference between "numeral" and "number"?

[ballzy]

I've been wondering why Roman numerals are not called Roman numbers. Does it make a difference?

Colleen

[Alana in Canada]

That's actually a fairly deep question for this time of night!

[Plaid Dad]

Numeral refers to the written symbol; number is an expression of the concept of quantity. Roman or Arabic numerals are two sets of conventional symbols used to express numbers.

The complicating factor is that number is sometimes used to refer to a symbolic representation as well. Clear as mud, eh?

[Colleen in NS]

Numeral refers to the written symbol; number is an expression of the concept of quantity. Roman or Arabic numerals are two sets of conventional symbols used to express numbers.

The complicating factor is that number is sometimes used to refer to a symbolic representation as well. Clear as mud, eh?

Huh. You never know what you are going to learn by reading these boards! I never would have thought up this question. :)

[Alana in Canada]

Plaid Dad said:

number is an expression of the concept of quantity

That's what I meant about "deep."

We looked at the Korean language very briefly when the children started Tae Kwon Do--apparently there are distinctions to be made in "quantity." They use two number systems.

[ballzy]

Numeral refers to the written symbol; number is an expression of the concept of quantity. Roman or Arabic numerals are two sets of conventional symbols used to express numbers.

The complicating factor is that number is sometimes used to refer to a symbolic representation as well. Clear as mud, eh?

I really like LCC, by the way, and am looking forward to LCC2.

Colleen