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Last updated on February 24th, 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.
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. 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 DCCCLIX to represent 859, here D is 500, CCC is 300, L is 50, and IX is 9. 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, DCCCLIX → D + CCC + L + IX → 500 + 300 + 50 + 9 = 859
To write a large number, there are certain Roman numerals that can be repeated three times. For example, CCC → 300.
If a smaller number is followed by 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 won't write VV for 10; instead, we use X.
Let's now learn how to write 859 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 859 in Roman numerals using the expansion method.
To write 859 in Roman numerals, follow the steps:
Step 1: The number is broken based on the place value: hundreds, tens, and ones. For 859, we write it as 800 + 50 + 9
Step 2: Converting the number into Roman numerals
800 in Roman Numerals — DCCC
50 in Roman Numerals — L
9 in Roman Numerals — IX
Step 3: Combining the Roman numerals together.
Therefore, 859 in Roman numerals is DCCC (800) + L (50) + IX (9) = DCCCLIX
When writing a large number into Roman numerals, we group the number.
To write 859 in Roman numerals, we group 859 as 800 + 50 + 9
800 in Roman numerals — DCCC
50 in Roman numerals — L
9 in Roman numerals — IX
So, 859 is written as DCCCLIX in Roman numerals.
A historian found DCCCXLVII ancient coins and later discovered XII more. How many coins does she have in total?
A library had CMXLV manuscripts. After donating LXXXVI manuscripts to another library, how many manuscripts remain?
An engineer calculated a machine's efficiency increase from DCCC to DCCCLIX. By how much did the efficiency improve?
A collector has DCCCIX rare stamps and buys an additional L stamps. What is the new total of rare stamps?
Convert the sum of CDXXIX and CDXXX using the expansion method into Roman numerals.
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.