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

Roman numeral | Chart & Facts? ›

The numerical system of Roman letters consists of 7 Latin letters. They are I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. Here I represents 1, V represents 5, X represents 10, L represents 50, C represents 100, D represents 500, and M represents 1000.

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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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What are the four rules of Roman numerals? ›

Rules for Formation of Roman-numerals

(a) We know the value of I = 1, value of X is 10 and value of C is 100.
(b) The value of I, X and C are added as:
(c) No digit is repeated in succession more than thrice, i.e., I, X and C cannot be repeated more than 3 times.
(d) The digits V, L and D are not repeated.

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What each Roman numeral stands for? ›

The Roman numeral system uses only seven symbols: I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. I represents the number 1, V represents 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500, and M is 1,000. Different arrangements of these seven symbols represent different numbers. The numbers 1–10 are: 1 = I.

Who invented Roman numerals and why? ›

Roman numerals are a number system that was invented by the ancient Romans for the purpose of counting and performing other day-to-day transactions.

How to understand Roman numerals? ›

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 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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Did you know facts about Roman numerals? ›

There are no zeros in Roman numerals. The Romans also used fractions which were called uncia. Roman numerals are sometimes written to write the years. The Romans would sometimes use Roman numerals as the days of the week.

What does Z mean 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.

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What number was not used in Roman numerals? ›

The number 0 does not exist in Roman numerals. There is no letter that represents 0. If the value can be represented by one letter, then only that letter is used.

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How old is Roman numerals? ›

Roman numerals originated, as the name might suggest, in ancient Rome. There are seven basic symbols: I, V, X, L, C, D and M. The first usage of the symbols began showing up between 900 and 800 B.C.

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Why did Roman numerals not have 0? ›

The roman number system was basically designed to estimate the prices of goods and trading business. So the roman system did not need any value to represent zero. But instead of zero, the word nulla was used by the Romans to specify zero. Latin language the word nulla means none.

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What year has the most Roman numerals? ›

What is the longest year number (yet) written in Roman numerals ? the longest overall year will be year 3888 with 15 characters.

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