xvi

Everyday

1. The Roman numeral for 16: X (10) + V (5) + I (1) = 16. tree →
2. Used in names of kings and popes, as in Louis XVI (Louis the Sixteenth), a king of France. tree →

In the lessons

In maths lessons on Roman numerals, you add the letters from left to right when the bigger ones come first: XVI = 10 + 5 + 1 = 16. Roman numerals appear on clocks, in book chapters, in the names of kings and queens, and in years on films and buildings. Louis XVI was king of France at the time of the French Revolution and was executed in 1793.

Examples

• XVI is the Roman numeral for 16. tree →
• We wrote our ages in Roman numerals; I am X and my sister is XVI. tree →
• Louis XVI was a king of France. tree →
• Chapter XVI of the book is the scariest. tree →
• XVI + IV = XX, because 16 + 4 = 20. tree →
• The old clock shows the hours in Roman numerals, but none goes up to XVI. tree →
• Chapter XVI The Magic Art of the Great Humbug tree →

Note

Usually written in capitals: XVI. With names, it is read as an ordinal: "Louis XVI" is "Louis the Sixteenth". It is not a word but a number. Trap: XIV is 14 (I before V means take away 1), while XVI is 16 (I after V means add 1).