confused

[alancameron]

in roman numerals the number 4 is written as 1v why on a clock face is it always 1111

[d0gsb0dy]

It's to balance the appearance, apparently. So I once read.

[Clanad]

Correct, the number in the same face position on the left side of the dial around the from 4 is eight, which is written VIII, hence both have the same number of digits...

[tony1941]

Several theories; mostly explained here:

http://www.ubr.com/clocks/faq/iiii.html

Personally, I had always thought it was a king who was mistaken , but nobody would argue with him.  I now see that the practice apparently dates back to Roman times, so if this is true, they must surely have known the "correct" format?

[SteveD]

It's interesting to note that Big Ben uses "IV":

http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/parliament.htm

[Narolines]

It isn't always; admittedly it is on many, probably on the majority in fact, but I have a clock on which 4 is "IV", and I've seen a good many others.  Don't know why, though.......