Table Of Contents
Last updated on February 14th, 2025
Roman Numerals are the symbols from the Latin letters used by Romans for daily transactions and counting purposes. In this topic, we will learn how to write Roman Numerals and their uses.
Roman Numerals use symbols to represent number systems. Ancient Romans used the letters I, V, X, L, C, D, and M to represent the number system. The unavailability of zero at that time and the lack of other mathematical operations made the Roman Numerals obsolete in recent times. For example, we write 15 as XV.
Roman numbers are used today in clocks, chapters in books, classrooms, etc. The following chart helps us to understand the numerals better.
Numbers |
Roman Numerals | Numbers | Roman Numerals | Numbers | Roman Numerals | Numbers | Roman Numerals |
1 |
I | 26 | XXVI | 51 | LI | 76 | LXXVI |
2 |
II | 27 | XXVII | 52 | LII | 77 | LXXVII |
3 |
III | 28 | XXVIII | 53 | LIII | 78 | LXXVIII |
4 |
IV | 29 | XXIX | 54 | LIV | 79 | LXXIX |
5 |
V | 30 | XXX | 55 | LV | 80 | LXXX |
6 |
VI | 31 | XXXI | 56 | LVI | 81 | LXXXI |
7 |
VII | 32 | XXXII | 57 | LVII | 82 | LXXXII |
8 |
VIII | 33 | XXXIII | 58 | LVIII | 83 | LXXXIII |
9 |
IX | 34 | XXXIV | 59 | LIX | 84 | LXXXIV |
10 |
X | 35 | XXXV | 60 | LX | 85 | LXXXV |
11 |
XI | 36 | XXXVI | 61 | LXI | 86 | LXXXVI |
12 |
XII | 37 | XXXVII | 62 | LXII | 87 | LXXXVII |
13 |
XIII | 38 | XXXVIII | 63 | LXIII | 88 | LXXXVIII |
14 |
XIV | 39 | XXXIX | 64 | LXIV | 89 | LXXXIX |
15 |
XV | 40 | XL | 65 | LXV | 90 | XC |
16 |
XVI | 41 | XLI | 66 | LXVI | 91 | XCI |
17 |
XVII | 42 | XLII | 67 | LXVII | 92 | XCII |
18 |
XVIII | 43 | XLIII | 68 | LXVIII | 93 | XCIII |
19 |
XIX | 44 | XLIV | 69 | LXIX | 94 | XCIV |
20 |
XX | 45 | XLV | 70 | LXX | 95 | XCV |
21 |
XXI | 46 | XLVI | 71 | LXXI | 96 | XCVI |
22 |
XXII | 47 | XLVII | 72 | LXXII | 97 | XCVII |
23 |
XXIII | 48 | XLVIII | 73 | LXXIII | 98 | XCVIII |
24 |
XXIV | 49 | XLIX | 74 | LXXIV | 99 | XCIX |
25 |
XXV | 50 | L | 75 | LXXV | 100 | C |
The list of Roman Numerals provides an organized way to understand how those letters combine to represent a number. The given list starts from I (1) to D (500). Learning these numerals helps you in a deeper understanding of the numerical system.
Roman Numerals rely on specific symbols, and it has rules of addition and subtraction. The basic symbols in Roman Numerals are:
Using the above symbols, we can combine the Roman Numerals for the numbers easily. There are two basic methods of writing Roman Numerals, they are
Through the expansion method, we break down the numbers into tens and one's parts and then convert them into numerals.
Step 1: Break the numbers into ones and tens of parts.
Step 2: Write Roman Numerals for each part.
Step 3: Combine all the parts to get the numerals.
Example: For the number 99.
Step 1: Break the numbers
90 + 9 = 99
Step 2: Add Roman Numerals for each part
The Roman Numeral of 90 is XC.
The Roman Numeral of 9 is IX.
Step 3: Combine all the parts
90 (XC) + 9 (IX) = XCIX.
Therefore, the Roman Numeral of 99 is XCIX.
Grouping method directly from the number by combining Roman Numeral symbols directly. It uses addition and subtraction rules.
Step 1: Start writing numerals for the largest number.
Step 2: Smaller numbers are either getting added or subtracted. Following the rule of adding and subtraction is mandatory.
Addition: smaller numeral after the larger numeral.
Subtraction: smaller numeral before the large numeral.
Example: For the number 12.
Step 1: Start with the larger numbers.
While splitting, we will get 10 and 2
The Roman Numeral of 10 is X
Step 2: Add or subtract the smaller number
If we add 2 to 10 it will become 12.
The Roman Numeral of 2 is II
Therefore, the Roman Numeral of 12 is XII.
Roman Numerals follow rules to make sure the number is written correctly. Here are some main rules given below
In Roman Numerals, if the smaller numeral comes after the large numeral, then we need to add their values.
Example: If the given number is XII. We can see that the number X refers to 10 and the other number refers to 2. So in this, the smaller numeral is after the large numeral, so we need to add the 10 and 2 to get the value 12.
The Roman Numeral can be repeated up to three times to increase its value. The numbers cannot be repeated after three times. Only symbols like I, X, C, and M can be repeated and V, L, and D cannot be repeated.
Example: XXX = 10 + 10 + 10 = 30 repeating the numeral X for the fourth time is not allowed.
If the smaller numeral comes before the large numeral, then we need to subtract the smaller numeral from the larger numeral to get the number. There are three rules in subtraction, they are,
Example: In the number IV. Here, V is the biggest numeral and I is the smallest numeral. As we see that the smaller numeral is before the larger numeral, we need to subtract to get the number. V (5) - I (1) = IV (4).
Roman Numerals consist of several limitations, they are:
Write the Roman Numerals for 28 using the breakdown method.
Add XX + VI.
Subtract L - XXV.
Write the Roman Numeral of 100.
Add 200 + 25 and write the answer in Roman Numeral.
Roman Numerals are fun to learn and easy to write when you know the following tips and tricks.
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.