ARABIC

Returns an Arabic number (eg 14), given a Roman number (eg XIV).

Syntax:

ARABIC(text)

returns the Roman numeral text as a number, limited to the range 1-3999.

Example:

ARABIC("MXIV")

returns 1014.

ARABIC("MMII")

returns 2002.

Application:

Imagine you are a historian or a librarian cataloging ancient Roman texts or historical documents. These documents might have dates or chapter numbers written in Roman numerals. To perform calculations, sort data chronologically, or simply make the numbers easier to read for modern audiences, you need to convert them to standard numbers.

Example Scenario:

You have a list of historical artifacts, and their discovery dates are recorded in a mix of formats. Some use standard numbers, but others, particularly older records, use Roman numerals for the century.

Here is a table representing this data:

	Artifact Name	Discovery Century (Roman)
	A	B
1	Roman Coin	XXI
2	Medieval Sword	XIV
3	Greek Amphora	I
4	Viking Brooch	IX
5	Egyptian Papyrus	XVII
6	Bronze Age Tool	V

Using the ARABIC function:

To fill in the "Discovery Century (Arabic)" column, you would use the ARABIC function.

In the cell for the first row (where the Roman Coin data is), you would enter the formula: ARABIC(B1)
- B1 is the cell containing the Roman numeral "XXI".
- The function would return 21.
You would then enter this formula for the rest of the column:
- For the Medieval Sword, the formula becomes ARABIC(B2), which returns 14.
- For the Greek Amphora, the formula becomes ARABIC(B3), which returns 1.
- And so on.

Completed Table:

	Artifact Name	Discovery Century (Roman)	Discovery Century (Arabic)
	A	B	C
1	Roman Coin	XXI	21
2	Medieval Sword	XIV	14
3	Greek Amphora	I	1
4	Viking Brooch	IX	9
5	Egyptian Papyrus	XVII	17
6	Bronze Age Tool	V	5