Understanding Roman Numerals: Beginner’s guide. Here’s how the Romans wrote their numbers.
The numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 that we all are aware of are used in the Hindu-Arabic numeration system; any number can be created using these digits.
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The Romans however used a combination of seven basic symbols to write any number.
Basic Symbols in Roman Numerals
- I (=1)
- V (=5)
- X (=10)
- L (=50)
- C (=100)
- D (=500)
- M (=1000)
Please note that the Romans did not have a symbol to represent the digit 0 (zero).
How to form Roman Numerals: Rules
Here’s how to form Roman numerals:
- When a Roman numeral is repeated one after the other, we add their values to get the number. For example: I+I+I = 3.
- If a smaller Roman symbol is written to the right of a greater Roman symbol, the value of the numeral is the sum of the values of the symbols. For example: VII = 5+2=7.
- If a smaller Roman symbol is written to the left of a greater Roman symbol, the value of the numeral is the difference of the values of the symbols, that is the smaller symbol is subtracted from the greater one. For example: IV = 5 – 1 = 4
- If the symbols are combined, the value of the symbol of smaller value is subtracted from the value of the symbol on its right. For example: XIV = 10 + (5 – 1) = 14
Reading Numbers
| 1 – I | 11 – X1 | 21 – XXI | 31 – XXXI | 41 – XLI |
| 2 – II | 12 – XII | 22 – XXII | 32 – XXXII | 42 – XLII |
| 3 – III | 13 – XIII | 23 – XXIII | 33 – XXXIII | 43 – XLIII |
| 4 – IV | 14 – XIV | 24 – XXIV | 34 – XXXIV | 44 – XLIV |
| 5 – V | 15 – XV | 25 – XXV | 35 – XXXV | 45 – XLV |
| 6 – VI | 16 – XVI | 26 – XXVI | 36 – XXXVI | 46 – XLVI |
| 7 – VII | 17 – XVII | 27 – XXVII | 37 – XXXVII | 47 – XLVII |
| 8 – VIII | 18 – XVIII | 28 – XXVIII | 38 – XXXVIII | 48 – XLVIII |
| 9 – IX | 19 – XIX | 29 – XXIX | 39 – XXXIX | 49 – XLIX |
| 10 – X | 20 – XX | 30 – XXX | 40 – XL | 50 – L |
Q) Write the Hindu-Aabic numerals for the following Roman Numerals.
XXXIII – 33. XVI – 16. M – 1000. C – 100. LV – 55. XLVII – 47. X – 10. XXIX – 29
Q) Write the following numbers in Roman Numerals.
- 31 – XXXI. 18 – XVIII. 45 – XLV. 60 – LX. 65 – LXV. 8 – VIII. 14 – XIV
- 12 – XII. 47 – XLVII. 27 – XXVII. 38 – XXXVIII. 2 – II. 32 – XXXII. 40 – XL
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