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The number system now in commonest use worldwide is positional. Consider a number such as 924.37. The position of each digit in the number indicates how significant it is. The digit 9 represents 100s, the 2 10s, the 4 1s, and so on.

The Roman number, or 'numeral' system, is non-positional. The value of a character in a number does not depend on its position only. Rather, the value of a character depends on what the character is and on neighbouring characters. Consider a number such as XLIV. In this case the 'X' means ten but only as a modifier for the 'L' which stands for fifty, so that the combination 'XL' means 40.

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Q: What is positional and nonpositional number system?
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