In the traditional system of Roman numerals, the number four is represented as "IV". However, in some contexts, particularly in certain ancient inscriptions and informal contexts, you might see "IIII" used to denote the number four. Despite this, "IIII" isn't considered standard in modern conventions of Roman numeral usage.
The numeral "IV" follows the subtractive notation principle of Roman numerals where "I" stands for 1, "V" for 5. When a smaller numeral appears before a larger one, it is subtracted, so "IV" means 5 - 1, which equals 4.
While "IIII" may be encountered less frequently and usually denotes an attempt at direct addition instead of subtraction, it's not a standard representation in the formal use of Roman numerals. In more structured environments like education, official numbering systems, or historical texts where Roman numerals are used, "IV" is the universally accepted symbol for the number four.