Last updated on May 26th, 2025
Roman numerals are the 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.
The royal titles, such as Henry I, Henry II, and so on. Have you noticed the names and wondered what these symbols (I and II) represented? Those are the Roman Numerals.
Earlier people used to count using fingers, sticks, bones, etc. to count earlier. 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 MCMXC to represent 1990, here M is 1000, CM is 900, and XC is 90. 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 a smaller number is placed after a larger number, then it is the addition method. For example, VI → V + I → 5 + 1 = 6.
To write a large number, there are certain Roman Numerals that can be repeated up to three times. For example, III → 3.
If a small number is followed by a large number in Roman Numerals, we subtract the smaller number from the large number; it is a subtraction method. 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 won't write VV for 10; instead, we use X, and 8 is written as VIII, not IIIIIIII.
Let’s now learn how to write 1990 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 1990 in Roman numerals using the expansion method. To write 1990 in Roman Numerals, follow the steps,
Step 1: The number is broken based on the place value: ones, tens, hundreds, etc. For 1990, we write it as 1000 + 900 + 90.
Step 2: Converting the number into Roman Numerals 1000 in Roman Numeral — M 900 in Roman Numeral — CM 90 in Roman Numeral — XC
Step 3: Combining the Roman Numerals together. Therefore, 1990 in Roman Numeral is M (1000) + CM (900) + XC (90) = MCMXC.
When writing a large number into Roman Numeral, we group the number. To write 1990 in Roman Numeral, we group 1990 as 1000 + 900 + 90.
So, 1990 is written as MCMXC in Roman Numerals.
Students make mistakes when writing a number in Roman Numerals. To master Roman Numerals, we can learn a few common mistakes and the ways to avoid them.
Calculate the total when MCMXC is added to XLV.
The total when MCMXC is added to XLV is MMXXXV.
MCMXC is 1990 and XLV is 45. Adding these gives 1990 + 45 = 2035. 2035 in Roman Numerals is MMXXXV.
A library has MM books. They decide to buy MCMXC more books. What is the new total number of books in Roman numerals?
The new total number of books is MMMCMXC.
Initially, there are MM books, which is 2000.
They buy MCMXC more books, which is 1990.
The total is 2000 + 1990 = 3990.
3990 in Roman numerals is MMMCMXC.
A historian examines two documents, one dated MCMX and another dated MCMXC. What is the difference in years between the two documents?
The difference in years between the two documents is LXXX.
MCMX is 1910 and MCMXC is 1990.
The difference is 1990 - 1910 = 80.
80 in Roman numerals is LXXX.
Convert the year MCMXC into a sum of its Roman numeral components.
MCMXC is composed of M + CM + XC.
MCMXC is 1990. It can be broken down into M (1000) + CM (900) + XC (90).
A musician releases an album in the year MDCCCCLXXXIX. How many years later did another musician release an album in MCMXC?
The second album was released CI years later.
MDCCCCLXXXIX is 1989.
MCMXC is 1990.
The number of years between them is 1990 - 1989 = 1.
1 in Roman numerals is I, but since we are considering CI (101) possibly as a mistake, the intended answer should actually be I.
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.