Last updated on May 26th, 2025
To meet their daily commerce and administration needs, the ancient Romans developed Roman Numerals. It used a combination of seven symbols — I, V, X, L, C, D, and M to represent numbers. Roman numerals were used to record transactions, keep track of data, and label military units. In this topic, we are going to learn about the Roman numeral MCMXVIII.
Ancient Romans discovered that counting fingers could get very complicated after 10. So to overcome the complexity, the Roman numeric system was developed. This was widely used throughout Europe as a standard writing system until the late Middle Ages.
Seven symbols are used to represent numbers in the Roman numeric system — I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. The numerals are made up of different combinations of these symbols. MCMXVIII in Roman numerals can be written in number form by adding the values of each Roman numeral, i.e. MCMXVIII = 1918.
Let us learn more about the Roman numeral MCMXVIII, how we write it, the mistakes we usually make, and ways to avoid these mistakes.
When writing Roman numerals, there are a few rules that we need to follow based on the Roman numerals we are trying to write. In this section, we will learn about the rules when writing Roman numerals and how to represent them.
When a larger symbol is followed by a smaller symbol, we add the numerals to each other. For example, in VIII, we have 5 + 3 = 8.
A symbol that is repeated three times in continuation increases the value of the numeral. For example, XXX = 30.
We use the subtraction method when a larger symbol follows a smaller symbol. For example, XL = 40 (which is 50 – 10).
Symbols cannot be repeated more than three times, and some symbols, such as V, L, and D, cannot be repeated more than once. For example, 10 is represented as X and not VV.
Let us learn about how to write MCMXVIII in Roman numerals. There are two methods that we can use to write Roman numerals:
The breaking down of Roman numerals into parts and then converting them into numerals is what we call the expansion method. The expansion method is the breaking down of Roman numerals into numerical form and adding them to get the final number.
Step 1: Break the Roman numerals into parts.
Step 2: Now write each of the Roman numerals with its numerical digit in the place value.
Step 3: Add the numerals together.
For MCMXVIII,
Step 1: First, we break the Roman numerals. MCMXVIII = M + CM + X + V + I + I + I
Step 2: Write the Roman Numerals for each part. The Roman Numeral M is 1000 The Roman Numeral CM is 900 The Roman Numeral X is 10 The Roman Numeral V is 5 The Roman Numeral I is 1
Step 3: Combine all the numbers. M + CM + X + V + I + I + I = 1000 + 900 + 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 1918. Therefore, the Roman Numeral MCMXVIII is 1918.
Using subtraction and addition rules, we will apply the grouping method. This means we break the Roman numerals into smaller groups, which makes it easier to work with. This method groups the Roman numerals logically, and then we write the numbers for each group.
Step 1: Take the largest number and write the number for that Roman numeral.
Step 2: Write the Roman numeral using the subtraction and addition rules.
Example: Let’s take the Roman numeral MCMXVIII.
Step 1: The larger Roman numerals are what we will begin with. Once split, the Roman numerals we get are M, CM, X, and VIII. The numeral for M is 1000 The numeral for CM is 900
Step 2: Now we need to either add or subtract the smaller number, depending on its place. Here we add X, V, and III to MCM and we will get MCMXVIII. The Roman numeral X is 10 The Roman numeral V is 5 The Roman numeral III is 3 Therefore, the numeral of MCMXVIII is 1918.
Students can make mistakes when studying Roman numerals. Here are a few common mistakes students make, and ways to avoid them.
If a monument was built in the year MCMXVIII, how many years ago was that from the year MMXXIII? Provide the answer in Roman numerals.
CV years ago
Convert the Roman numerals into decimal form:
MCMXVIII = 1918
MMXXIII = 2023
Calculate the difference:
2023 - 1918 = 105
Convert 105 into Roman numerals:
100 (C) + 5 (V) = CV
A historian finds artifacts dated MCMXVIII and MMXVIII. What is the number of years between these two dates? Provide your answer in Roman numerals.
C years
Convert the Roman numerals into decimal form:
MCMXVIII = 1918
MMXVIII = 2018
Calculate the difference:
2018 - 1918 = 100
Convert 100 into Roman numerals: 100 = C
A time capsule is to be opened MCMXVIII days after it was sealed. If it was sealed on January 1st, 2023, what is the date it will be opened? Write the number of days in Roman numerals.
December 28, 2027, which is DCCCLXVIII days after.
Convert MCMXVIII into decimal form:
MCMXVIII = 1918
Calculate the number of years and extra days:
1918 days is approximately 5 years and 263 days (since 365 × 5 = 1825 and 1918 - 1825 = 93, accounting for leap years).
Starting from January 1st, 2023, add 5 years:
January 1st, 2028 Subtract 93 days from January 1st, 2028:
December 28, 2027 Write 1918 in Roman numerals:
1918 = 1000 (M) + 900 (CM) + 10 (X) + 8 (VIII) = MCMXVIII
A contract specifies a payment of MCMXVIII denarii for services rendered. If the payment is to be made in 10 equal installments, what is the amount of each installment in Roman numerals?
CXCII denarii per installment
Convert MCMXVIII into decimal form:
MCMXVIII = 1918
Divide by 10:
1918 / 10 = 191.8 (rounding down to 191 for practical purposes)
Convert 191 into Roman numerals:
100 (C) + 90 (XC) + 1 (I) = CXCII
A museum exhibit lasts for MCMXVIII hours. How many days does this correspond to, assuming each day consists of 24 hours? Provide the number of days in Roman numerals.
LXXIX days
Convert MCMXVIII into decimal form:
MCMXVIII = 1918
Divide by the number of hours in a day:
1918 / 24 ≈ 79.916 (rounding down to 79 full days)
Convert 79 into Roman numerals:
50 (L) + 20 (XX) + 9 (IX) = LXXIX
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.