![different ways to write numbers in different languages different ways to write numbers in different languages](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ae/67/20/ae67209ad8428df9594b3fd5e87e92da--kid-crafts-messages.jpg)
Some people write 4 with an open top while others write it with a pointy triangular top. Some people write 3 with a flat top, others with a curvy top. Many Europeans write 1 with a long "hat" (looking a lot like an American 7) while Americans tend to write it either as a single straight line, or with a short "hat" and a base. Many computer geeks and engineers often cross their 0's to distinguish them from the letter O, but this doesn't work for Danish-speakers, for whom Ø is a different letter. Third, the numerals are written differently in different parts of the world, when written by hand: We call our numerals "Arabic" (or "Hindu-Arabic" if we're being more accurate) but they are not the same as the classical Arabic or Hindu numerals. So there was a huge advantage to people in switching from other numeral systems to the modern one, back in the day when most calculation was done by hand. Go look up the Greek-Hebrew one it's great for making secret codes but lousy for doing long division. And most other number systems were worse than Roman numerals. Thats why youll see 'Top 10' in the title of listicle articles rather than 'Top Ten.' This rule is true even when the number is the first word of the title. Doing it in Roman numerals is a lot harder: DLXXIV × IX: first you have to unpack the subtractives IV and IX to form IIII and VIIII then you multiply each digit on the left by each on the right then you sort them in descending order and then you group up any IIIII's to make V's and so on. Use Numerals in Headings and Titles When you include a number in a heading or a title, its better to use a numeral rather than spelling out a word. If you want to multiply 574 × 9, you can multiply 500 × 9, 70 × 9, and 4 × 9 and then add up the results.
![different ways to write numbers in different languages different ways to write numbers in different languages](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XtkpzRCfXNM/UsOZD5aTIwI/AAAAAAAAo28/qXyt9NbV83M/s1600/numeralsystems.png)
The big difference is in place value, which means you can calculate one digit at a time and add up the results quickly.
![different ways to write numbers in different languages different ways to write numbers in different languages](https://www.educba.com/academy/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Patterns-in-C.png)
First, not all numeral systems are created equal! It is actually a lot easier to do arithmetic with Hindu-Arabic numerals (the ones we use) than with Roman numerals, Mayan numerals, Greek-Hebrew numerals, or Babylonian numerals.