There’s a joke that goes like this: Roman numerals. What are they good IV? It’s a nice little number pun, but honestly, Roman numerals aren’t good for much — just try doing your taxes with them. By ...

Here’s something Sr. Mary Agatha, your 8th-grade math teacher, never taught you. Before Hindu-Arabic numerals were widespread throughout Christendom, the Cistercian monks throughout Europe in the ...