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 more. Here we will be discussing Roman Numerals, rules, and examples.
The royal titles, such as Henry I, Henry II, and so on, use Roman Numerals. Have you noticed these symbols (I and II) and wondered what they represent? Those are Roman Numerals. In ancient times, people used fingers, sticks, bones, etc., to count. As life became more complex, a standard form was needed, so the ancient Romans developed the Roman Numeral system. We use I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500), and M (1000) as symbols to count.
In Roman Numerals, we use DCCCXX to represent 820, where D is 500, CCC is 300, and XX is 20. Let’s learn more about Roman numerals and how we write them.
Certain basic rules apply when writing a number in Roman Numerals. Let's discuss some rules that are important to remember:
The addition method is used when the smaller number is placed after the larger number. For example, DCCCXX → D + CCC + XX → 500 + 300 + 20 = 820
Certain Roman Numerals can be repeated up to three times. For instance, III → 3.
If a smaller number precedes a larger number, you subtract the smaller from the larger. For example, IX → X - I → 10 - 1 = 9
Symbols cannot be repeated more than three times, and some symbols like V, L, and D cannot be repeated. For example, we write 10 as X, not VV, and 8 as VIII, not IIIIIIII.
Let’s learn how to write 820 in Roman Numerals using different methods.
In the expansion method, based on place value, the number is broken down. Here's how to write 820 in Roman numerals using this method:
Step 1: Break the number based on place value: hundreds, tens, ones. For 820, it's 800 + 20.
Step 2: Convert these numbers into Roman Numerals:
Step 3: Combine them: DCCC + XX = DCCCXX.
When writing large numbers into Roman Numerals, we group the numbers. To write 820 in Roman Numerals, group 820 as 800 + 20.
Therefore, 820 is written as DCCCXX 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 ways to avoid them.
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.