Roman numeral | Chart & Facts (2024)

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What are Roman numerals?

Roman numerals are the symbols used in a system of numerical notation based on the ancient Roman system. The symbols are I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, standing respectively for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000.

What are Roman numerals used for today?

Examples of the use of Roman numerals today include the denotation of book chapters, the title of each year’s National Football League Super Bowl as well as the titles of Summer and Winter Olympics, and the marking of hours on clock faces.

How do Roman numerals work?

In the Roman numeral system, the symbols I, V, X, L, C, D, and M stand respectively for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 in the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. A symbol placed after another of equal or greater value adds its value. A symbol placed before one of greater value subtracts its value. A bar placed over a number multiplies its value by 1,000.

Where do Roman numerals come from?

As in all such matters, the origin of the Roman numeral system of numerical notation is obscure, although the changes in their forms since the 3rd century BCE are well known. Roman numerals were likely developed as a result of a need for a common method of counting in order to better conduct trade.

Is it still important to learn Roman numerals?

Despite the impracticality of using Roman numerals for mathematical calculations, which led to the widespread use of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system we know today, some people do still argue for the importance of teaching Roman numerals in schools. Proponents believe that Roman numerals have enduring cultural relevance, as seen in their continued use in sporting event titles and book chapters. Learn more.

Roman numeral, any of the symbols used in a system of numerical notation based on the ancient Roman system. The symbols are I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, standing respectively for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 in the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. A symbol placed after another of equal or greater value adds its value—e.g., II = 1 + 1 = 2 and LVIII = 50 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 58. Usually only three identical symbols can be used consecutively; to express numbers beginning with a 4 or a 9, a symbol is placed before one of greater value to subtract its value—e.g., IV = −1 + 5 = 4, XC = −10 + 100 = 90, and MCMLXXXIX = 1,000 −100 + 1,000 + 50 + 10 + 10 + 10 −1 +10 = 1,989. The exceptions are 4,000, which is sometimes written as MMMM, and clocks, which usually display 4 as IIII. A bar called a vinculum placed over a number multiplies its value by 1,000.

Below is a table of Arabic numerals and their Roman numeral equivalents.

More From BritannicaIs It Still Important to Learn Roman Numerals?

Arabic and Roman numerals
Arabic	Roman
1	I
2	II
3	III
4	IV
5	V
6	VI
7	VII
8	VIII
9	IX
10	X
11	XI
12	XII
13	XIII
14	XIV
15	XV
16	XVI
17	XVII
18	XVIII
19	XIX
20	XX
21	XXI
22	XXII
23	XXIII
24	XXIV
30	XXX
40	XL
50	L
60	LX
70	LXX
80	LXXX
90	XC
100	C
101	CI
102	CII
200	CC
300	CCC
400	CD
500	D
600	DC
700	DCC
800	DCCC
900	CM
1,000	M
1,001	MI
1,002	MII
1,900	MCM
2,000	MM
2,001	MMI
2,002	MMII
2,100	MMC
3,000	MMM
4,000	IV or MMMM
5,000	V

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.

FAQs

What are the facts about Roman Numerals? ›

The Roman numeral system uses seven letters as numerals: I = 1; V = 5; X = 10; L = 50; C = 100; D = 500; M = 1,000. The numerals can be written as either capital or lowercase letters. A bar over a numeral multiplies its value by 1,000: for example, V = 5,000 and X = 10,000.

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How do you answer Roman Numerals? ›

Rule #1: When reading Roman Numerals, the value of the number is added from left to right if the left numeral is greater than the right numeral. Rule #2: If the left numeral is smaller than the right numeral, subtract the value of the left value from the right numeral.

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What is Roman number in short answer? ›

In roman numerals, alphabets are used to represent the fixed positive numbers. These roman numerals are I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X represent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively. After 10, the roman numerals are followed by XI for 11, XII for 12, XII for 13, … till XX for 20.

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What was the main purpose of Roman numerals? ›

Roman numerals are a numeric system which utilizes a series or combination of alpha characters, or letters, which represent numeric values. These characters, when arranged in the correct order, were designed to represent a sophisticated counting system that was used in the Roman Empire for trading and commerce.

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What makes Roman numerals unique? ›

Description. Roman numerals use different symbols for each power of ten and there is no zero symbol, in contrast with the place value notation of Arabic numerals (in which place-keeping zeros enable the same digit to represent different powers of ten).

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What does the M stand for in Roman numerals? ›

M Roman Numerals in numbers is 1000. There are seven symbols (alphabets) used in the Roman Numeral system. They are I, V, X , L, C, D and M. They represent the numbers 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 respectively. Since M is the fundamental symbol for Roman numerals, it represents the number 1000.

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Which Roman numeral cannot be repeated? ›

While writing a Roman numeral, only the numerals I, X, C and M can be repeated. V, L and D cannot be repeated.

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What does d mean in Roman numerals? ›

The number 500 in Roman Numerals is directly represented by the letter D. Hence, there is no method to perform addition or subtraction for D Roman Numerals. Thus, the numerical value of D Roman Numerals is 500.

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What does c mean in Roman numerals? ›

The number form of C Roman Numerals is denoted by 100. Here, 100 is having a fixed roman representation. Hence, to indicate C Roman Numerals in number, we use the number 100.

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What is z in Roman numerals? ›

Z, Symbol. the 26th in order or in a series, or, when I is omitted, the 25th. (sometimes l.c.) the medieval Roman numeral for 2000. Cf. Roman numerals.

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Which basic Roman numeral can never be subtracted? ›

What are the Roman numerals that can never be subtracted? Answer. The symbols V, L and D are not written to the left of a symbol that has greater value. This means that V, L and D are never subtracted.

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What is k in Roman numerals? ›

For instance, the roman number stands for 7000. Therefore we can definitely say that K is not a roman number. It is a letter that belongs to our alphabet and it is the abbreviation of Kilo, which in turn means to multiply a certain unit by 1000. So, a Kilogram means 1000 grams; a Kilometre means 1000 metres, and so on.

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Who invented Roman numerals? ›

The origin of Roman numerals can be traced back to ancient Rome. The Roman numeral system is believed to have evolved around the 7th century BCE from the Etruscan numeral system, which itself had roots in the ancient Greek numeral system.