Last updated on May 26th, 2025
Roman Numerals are a way of expressing numbers using symbols. I, V, X, L, C, D, and M are the symbols we use. Roman numerals are used in royal titles, book names, sequences, and so on. Here we will be discussing Roman Numerals, rules, and examples.
Royal titles, such as Henry I, Henry II, and so on, often use Roman numerals. Have you noticed the names and wondered what these symbols (I and II) represented?
Those are Roman numerals. Earlier people used to count using fingers, sticks, bones, etc. When life became complex, a standard form was required to count. Ancient Romans used the Roman numeral system to count. I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500), and M (1000) are the symbols we use to count.
In Roman numerals, we use DCCXII to represent 712, where D is 500, CC is 200, X is 10, and II is 2. Let’s learn more about Roman numerals and how we write them.
There are certain basic rules to write a number in Roman numerals. In this section, let’s discuss some basic rules that need to be remembered when writing a number in Roman numerals.
The addition method is used when the smaller number is placed after the larger number. For example, XII → X + I + I → 10 + 1 + 1 = 12.
To write a larger number, there are certain Roman numerals that can be repeated up to three times. For example, CCC → 300.
If a smaller number precedes a larger number in Roman numerals, we subtract the smaller number from the larger number. For example, IX → X - I → 10 - 1 = 9.
The symbols cannot be repeated more than three times, and some symbols like V, L, and D cannot be repeated. For example, we do not write VV for 10; instead, we use X. Also, 8 is written as VIII, not IIIIIIII.
Let’s now learn how to write 712 in Roman numerals. Follow these methods to write the number in Roman numerals.
In the expansion method, based on the place value, the number is broken down. In this section, we will learn how to write 712 in Roman numerals using the expansion method.
To write 712 in Roman numerals, follow these steps:
Step 1: Break the number based on the place value. Place value includes ones, tens, hundreds, etc.
For 712, we write it as 500 + 200 + 10 + 2.
Step 2: Convert the numbers into Roman numerals:
- 500 in Roman numeral — D
- 200 in Roman numeral — CC
- 10 in Roman numeral — X
- 2 in Roman numeral — II
Step 3: Combine the Roman numerals together.
Therefore, 712 in Roman numerals is D (500) + CC (200) + X (10) + II (2) = DCCXII.
When writing a large number into Roman numerals, we group the number.
To write 712 in Roman numerals, we group 712 as 500 + 200 + 10 + 2:
- 500 in Roman numeral — D
- 200 in Roman numeral — CC
- 10 in Roman numeral — X
- 2 in Roman numeral — II
So, 712 is written as DCCXII in Roman numerals.
Students often make mistakes when writing numbers in Roman numerals. To master Roman numerals, we can learn a few common mistakes and the ways to avoid them.
A historian is cataloging artifacts and needs to record the year DCCXII in Roman numerals. If he finds two artifacts, one dating to the year DCCXII and another dating to the year DCCX, what is the difference in years between these two artifacts?
The difference in years is II.
DCCXII = 712
DCCX = 710
712 - 710 = 2
2 in Roman numerals is II.
An architect is designing a building with DCCXII windows distributed equally across XXXVI floors. How many windows will each floor have?
Each floor will have XIX windows.
DCCXII = 712
XXXVI = 36
712 / 36 = 19.77, rounded to the nearest whole number, each floor will have 19 windows.
19 in Roman numerals is XIX.
Calculate the sum of the Roman numerals for the number of days in February in a leap year (XXIX) and the year 712.
The sum is DCCXLI.
XXIX = 29 (February in a leap year)
DCCXII = 712
29 + 712 = 741
741 in Roman numerals is DCCXLI.
A treasure map indicates a location at DCCXII paces north and then XI paces east. Find the total distance in paces in Roman numerals.
The total distance is DCCXXIII.
DCCXII = 712 paces north
XI = 11 paces east
712 + 11 = 723
723 in Roman numerals is DCCXXIII.
A company produced DCCXII widgets in one week and plans to produce the same amount each week for the next VI weeks. What is the total number of widgets they plan to produce?
A company produced DCCXII widgets in one week and plans to produce the same amount each week for the next VI weeks. What is the total number of widgets they plan to produce?
DCCXII = 712
VI = 6
712 × 6 = 4272
4272 in Roman numerals is MMMMDCCLII.
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.