texts, such as Henry VIII (Henry the Eighth). Roman numerals can even contain ordi-
nal suffixes, such as the IXth Dynasty.Ordinal and Cardinal Numbers and Symbols
Hindu-Arabic Roman Cardinal Ordinal Ordinal
Symbol Symbol Number Name Number Name Symbol
0 n/a zero/naught/cipher
1 I one first 1st
2 II two second 2d/2nd
3 III three third 3d/3rd
4 IV four fourth 4th
5 V five fifth 5th
6 VI six sixth 6th
7 VII seven seventh 7th
8 VIII eight eighth 8th
80 9 IX nine ninth 9th
Do numbers continue into infinity?
W
hen most of us think of infinity, we envision the universe continuing on
forever; and in mathematics, we often think of numbers that are never-
ending. Sometimes it is difficult to understand infinity, since our own lives—
and most of our experiences—are finite (they eventually end). Infinity is a mind-
boggling concept.There are several rules to mathematical infinity. The three most important
are: No matter how high you count numbers, you can always count higher; no
matter what length you draw parallel lines, they will never meet; and when start-
ing with a line, dividing it in half, then dividing that in half, and so on, you will
never stop dividing the resulting line segment.Even though scientists and mathematicians agree that infinity exists theo-
retically, it is often a difficult concept to understand and accept. Is it true that
the number of particles in the universe are infinite? Does the universe continue
on forever? Do parallel lines eventually meet at a place we have yet to discover?
If a particle is infinitely divided, just how small can an atomic particle become?
And to add to the unimaginable explanations, German mathematician George
(Georg) Ferdinand Ludwig Philipp Cantor (1845–1918) mathematically rea-
soned out that not only do infinities come in different sizes, but there are an
infinite number of infinities.