FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2024
By John C. Breckinridge
Senior Science and Mathematics Writer
The Journal of Emergent Complex Situations
Bugtussle, KY – In an unprecedented event that challenges societal norms, an eminent malware attack threatens to simultaneously convert all Arabic numbers to Roman Numerals and switch the United States customary unit system to the metric system. The resulting Roman Numeral Metric System will have profound implications across all aspects of life, redefining the way we approach everyday calculations and transactions.
Nevertheless, if we prepare for the changes, the threat will be a minor “blump in the toad.”
To help alleviate people’s fears about this monumental change, I’d like to take a few moments to highlight how these changes will affect each of us, from preschoolers learning simple mathematics to physicists at CalTech.
Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division
The transition from Arabic to Roman numerals will fundamentally alter how basic arithmetic operations are performed. For example:
- Addition: VII + V = XII, remaining conceptually similar but visually different.
- Subtraction: IX – IV = V, requiring an understanding of Roman numeral rules.
- Multiplication: VI * III = XVIII, involving multiple additions.
- Division: XV / III = V, performed via repeated subtraction, which can be cumbersome.
Complex Equations and Exponents
- Equation Example: VIII + III * II = XXII.
- Exponents: III^III = XXVII, manageable for small numbers but rapidly complicated for larger values.
Real-World Example Equations
- Addition: XV+XXV=XL
- Multiplication: XL×IV=CLX
- Division: XXXVI/VI=VI
- Subtraction: CLX−VI=CLIV
- Final Addition: CLIV+VIII=CLXII
- Full Equation: (XV+XXV)×IV−(XXXVI/VI)+VIII=CLXII
Word Problems
Here are three scenarios to demonstrate how the upcoming changes will directly affect people and businesses from all walks of life where quickly adopting the new Roman Numeral Metrix System will be essential.
Wavy Gravy’s Festival Sales
In upstate New York, “Wavy Gravy” is preparing for the Woodstock Festival of Peace, Love, and Music. He has a stock of hooch and white lightning to sell. On the first day of the festival, he sells one-third of his hooch and one-fourth of his white lightning. The hooch is sold in amphorae (large pottery jars) that hold exactly III liters each, and he had XXIV amphorae of hooch before the festival. The white lightning is sold in smaller containers that hold exactly D milliliters each, and he had XL containers before the festival.
The next day, he receives a new shipment, adding another XII amphorae of hooch and XX containers of white lightning to his stock. However, due to an error in delivery, V amphorae of hooch are broken.
At the end of the second day, Wavy Gravy decides to offer a discount and sells half of his remaining hooch and white lightning. He sells the hooch for IX denarii per amphora and the white lightning for VII denarii per container. Answer these questions:
- How much hooch (in liters) and white lightning (in milliliters) does Wavy Gravy have left after his brother-in-law comes over and attempts to guzzle everything in sight?
- After his hungover brother-in-law wakes up on his living room couch, what is the total reimbursement (in denarii) he can expect from his brother-in-law, assuming his welfare check comes in on time?
Solution:
After the First Day:
- Hooch:
- Original stock: XXIV amphorae.
- Sold one-third: XXIV / III = VIII amphorae.
- Remaining: XXIV – VIII = XVI amphorae.
- In liters: XVI * III = XLVIII liters.
- White Lightning:
- Original stock: XL containers.
- Sold one-fourth: XL / IV = X containers.
- Remaining: XL – X = XXX containers.
- In milliliters: XXX * D = MMM milliliters.
After the Second Day and Discount Sale:
- Hooch:
- New shipment: XII amphorae.
- Broken: V amphorae.
- New stock: XVI (remaining from first day) + XII – V = XXIII amphorae.
- Sold half at discount: XXIII / II = XI amphorae.
- Revenue from wine: XI * IX = XCIX denarii.
- White Lightning:
- New shipment: XX containers.
- New stock: XXX (remaining from first day) + XX = L containers.
- Sold half at discount: L / II = XXV containers.
- Revenue from olive oil: XXV * VII = CLXXV denarii.
Total Revenue:
- Hooch: XCIX denarii.
- White Lightning: CLXXV denarii.
- Total: XCIX + CLXXV = CCLXXIV denarii.
Aurora “Rampage” Rivers’ Stunt Driver
Professional stunt car driver, Aurora “Rampage” Rivers, is driving a Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Series II in an action-packed movie titled, “Gearshift Goddess: The Nitro Chronicles.” The set is a CCC-kilometer oval circuit. Aurora plans to complete filming in three segments with different strategies for each.
In the first segment, which is CXX kilometers, Aurora maintains a constant speed of CC kilometers per hour (km/h), with occasional stops at an In-N-Out drive-thru for lunch. For the second segment, which is C kilometers, she increases her speed by XX km/h to try to evade the police. However, in the final LXXX-kilometer segment, due to low fuel, Aurora reduces her speed by XXX km/h from her second segment’s speed.
Questions:
- What is the total distance covered by Aurora in the race?
- How long does it take Aurora to stop for an In-N-Out Double-Double Burger, Animal Fries, and a liter of Dr. Pepper, complete each segment, and finish the race?
- What is Aurora’s average speed for polishing off a Double-Double?
Solution:
Total Distance:
- The race track is CCC kilometers long, divided into three segments (CXX km, C km, and LXXX km).
- Total distance = CXX km + C km + LXXX km = CCC km.
Time for Each Segment and Entire Race:
- First Segment:
- Distance = CXX km, Speed = CC km/h.
- Time = Distance / Speed = CXX km / CC km/h = 0.6 hours.
- Second Segment:
- Distance = C km, Speed = CC km/h + XX km/h = CCXX km/h.
- Time = C km / CCXX km/h ≈ 0.45 hours.
- Final Segment:
- Distance = LXXX km, Speed = CCXX km/h – XXX km/h = CXC km/h.
- Time = 80 km / 190 km/h ≈ 0.42 hours.
- Total Time for Race:
- Total time = 0.6 hours + 0.45 hours + 0.42 hours ≈ 1.47 hours.
Average Speed for the Entire Race:
- Average speed = Total distance / Total time.
- Total distance = CCC km.
- Total time ≈ 1.47 hours.
- Average speed ≈ CCC km / 1.47 hours ≈ 204.08 km/h.
InflateTech’s International Expansion
InflateTech, a US-based technology company, is expanding its operations internationally. They plan to sell their flagship product, personalized blow-up celebrity dolls, in three different countries: Japan, Germany, and Brazil. The pricing strategy for each market takes into account local taxes and exchange rates.
- In Japan, the personalized blow-up celebrity dolls are priced at LXXX Japanese Yen (JPY). However, there’s an X% sales tax on inflatable plastic products.
- In Germany, the price is set at DCC Euros (EUR), with an XIX% Value Added Tax (VAT).
- In Brazil, the personalized blow-up celebrity dolls are priced at MMM Brazilian Real (BRL), with a tax rate of XV%.
The current exchange rates are:
- I USD = CX JPY
- I USD = 0.85 (LXXXV/C) EUR
- I USD = V BRL
InflateTech aims to calculate the total revenue in USD from the sales of the personalized blow-up celebrity dolls in these three countries, assuming they sell D units in Japan, CCC units in Germany, and CC units in Brazil.
Solution:
Total Revenue from Each Country (Local Currency):
- Japan:
- Base price per unit: LXXX,000 JPY.
- Price including tax: LXXX,000 JPY + X% of LXXX,000 JPY = LXXXVIII,000 JPY.
- Total revenue for D units: LXXXVIII,000 JPY/unit * D units = XLIV,000,000 JPY.
- Germany:
- Base price per unit: DCC EUR.
- Price including tax: DCC EUR + XIX% of DCC EUR = DCCCXXXIII EUR.
- Total revenue for CCC units: DCCCXXXIII EUR/unit * CCC units = CCXLIX,CM EUR
- Brazil:
- Base price per unit: MMM BRL.
- Price including tax: MMM BRL + XV% of MMM BRL = MMMCDL BRL.
- Total revenue for CC units: MMMCDL BRL/unit * CC units = DCXC,000 BRL.
Total Revenue in USD:
- Japan:
- Total revenue: XLIV,000,000 JPY.
- Conversion to USD: XLIV,000,000 JPY / CX JPY/USD ≈ CD,000 USD.
- Germany:
- Total revenue: CCXLIX,CM EUR.
- Conversion to USD: CCXLIX,CM EUR / LXXXV/C EUR/USD ≈ CCXCIV,000 USD.
- Brazil:
- Total revenue: DCXC,000 BRL.
- Conversion to USD: DCXC,000 BRL / V BRL/USD = CXXXVIII,000 USD.
- Total Revenue (All Countries):
- Total revenue in USD = CD,000 USD (Japan) + CCXCIV,000 USD (Germany) + CXXXVIII,000 USD (Brazil) = DCCCXXXII,000 USD.
I think we can all agree that the imminent Roman Numeral Metric System malware attack presents a unique and challenging scenario. The examples and scenarios in this article demonstrate how deeply embedded numerical systems are in our daily lives and the significant impact such a change could have across different sectors.
While this change might initially seem like a major disruption, it also offers an opportunity to revisit and appreciate the intricacies of numerical systems. By preparing for these changes and understanding their implications, what initially appears to be a daunting transition could ultimately become just a minor “blump in the toad.”
