How to Use Roman Numerals
Understand the concept of Roman numerals., Learn the values., Put them together., Learn the special rules for 4000 and above., Understand how to break up a number to read it.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Understand the concept of Roman numerals.
Roman numerals use fewer symbols than the number system you are used to.
I is the number 1 (one), V is 5 (five), and X is 10 (ten), for example.
Counting starts out as easy as I (one), II (two), III (three).
But for the next one, write IV for "one away from five" (I away from V), which is four.
This pattern continues with V (five), VI (five + one = six), VII (seven), VIII (eight), then IX ("one away from ten" = nine), X (ten).
This may sound confusing, but you'll get the hang of it, Take a look at Roman numerals from 1 to 20:
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX -
Step 2: Learn the values.
As you may know, the Roman numbering system is based on letters rather than a whole new alphabet for numbers.
I 1 V 5 X 10 L 50 C 100 D 500 M 1000 , The concept in step 1 is actually quite basic.
That pattern repeats continuously throughout the system, no matter how great a number may be.
For example:
From 40 to 50:
XL XLI XLII XLIII XLIV XLV XLVI XLVIII XLIX L From 100 to 110:
C CI CII CIII CIV CV CVI CVII CVIII CIX CX By hundreds, from 100 to 1000:
C CC CCC CD D DC DCC DCCC CM M , There is no character representing 5000, so there are 3 ways to do this.
The Romans themselves just wrote MMMM for
4000.
To be faster, write the Roman numeral value for 4 in parentheses like so: (IV) Finally, a bar could be drawn above the number rather than putting the number in parentheses. , After understanding how the individual numbers are written, it is easy to understand how MCMXXXIV (used as an example in the introduction) means
1934.
To get MCMXXXIV, simply add:
MCM (1900) + XXX (30) + IV (4).
To get MDCCLXXVI (1776), simply add:
MDCC (1700) + LXX (70) + VI (6). -
Step 3: Put them together.
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Step 4: Learn the special rules for 4000 and above.
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Step 5: Understand how to break up a number to read it.
Detailed Guide
Roman numerals use fewer symbols than the number system you are used to.
I is the number 1 (one), V is 5 (five), and X is 10 (ten), for example.
Counting starts out as easy as I (one), II (two), III (three).
But for the next one, write IV for "one away from five" (I away from V), which is four.
This pattern continues with V (five), VI (five + one = six), VII (seven), VIII (eight), then IX ("one away from ten" = nine), X (ten).
This may sound confusing, but you'll get the hang of it, Take a look at Roman numerals from 1 to 20:
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX
As you may know, the Roman numbering system is based on letters rather than a whole new alphabet for numbers.
I 1 V 5 X 10 L 50 C 100 D 500 M 1000 , The concept in step 1 is actually quite basic.
That pattern repeats continuously throughout the system, no matter how great a number may be.
For example:
From 40 to 50:
XL XLI XLII XLIII XLIV XLV XLVI XLVIII XLIX L From 100 to 110:
C CI CII CIII CIV CV CVI CVII CVIII CIX CX By hundreds, from 100 to 1000:
C CC CCC CD D DC DCC DCCC CM M , There is no character representing 5000, so there are 3 ways to do this.
The Romans themselves just wrote MMMM for
4000.
To be faster, write the Roman numeral value for 4 in parentheses like so: (IV) Finally, a bar could be drawn above the number rather than putting the number in parentheses. , After understanding how the individual numbers are written, it is easy to understand how MCMXXXIV (used as an example in the introduction) means
1934.
To get MCMXXXIV, simply add:
MCM (1900) + XXX (30) + IV (4).
To get MDCCLXXVI (1776), simply add:
MDCC (1700) + LXX (70) + VI (6).
About the Author
Angela Martinez
Brings years of experience writing about lifestyle and related subjects.
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