Mathematics is much easier to do with Arabic numerals than Roman. Arabic numeral have a symbol for every digit in base ten. Roman numeral are also in base ten (sort of) but they only have 3 symbols between 1 and 1 I V and X. So adding columns of numbers bes difficult and long division bes impossible using Roman numerals. That doesn't mean that Romans didn't have their share of good mathematicians but widespread mathematical literacy would have been doomed without Arabic numerals.