Last updated on May 26th, 2025
Roman numerals are a way of representing numbers using symbols. I, V, X, L, C, D, and M are the symbols used. Roman numerals are employed in royal titles, book names, sequences, and more. Here we will discuss Roman numerals, rules, and examples.
Royal titles, such as Henry I, Henry II, and others, often feature Roman numerals. Have you noticed these symbols and wondered about their meaning?
They are Roman numerals. In ancient times, people counted using fingers, sticks, bones, etc. As life became more complex, a standard form of counting was needed. The ancient Romans developed the Roman numeral system for this purpose. The symbols are I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500), and M (1000).
In Roman numerals, 868 is represented as DCCCLXVIII. Here, D is 500, CCC is 300, LX is 60, and VIII is 8. Let’s learn more about Roman numerals and how we write them.
Certain basic rules must be followed when writing a number in Roman numerals. Let's discuss some fundamental rules to remember when writing Roman numerals.
The addition method is used when a smaller number is placed after a larger number. For example, VIII → V + III → 5 + 3 = 8.
To write large numbers, some Roman numerals can be repeated up to three times. For example, CCC → 300.
If a smaller number precedes a larger number in Roman numerals, we subtract the smaller number from the larger one. 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 instance, we won't write VV for 10; instead, we use X. Similarly, 8 is written as VIII, not IIIIIIII.
Let’s learn how to write 868 in Roman numerals. Follow these methods to write the number in Roman numerals.
In the expansion method, the number is broken down based on place value. This section will show how to write 868 in Roman numerals using the expansion method.
To write 868 in Roman numerals, follow these steps:
Step 1: Break the number based on place value: hundreds, tens, units, etc. For 868, it is 800 + 60 + 8.
Step 2: Convert each number into Roman numerals.
800 in Roman Numerals — DCCC
60 in Roman Numerals — LX
8 in Roman Numerals — VIII
Step 3: Combine the Roman numerals.
Therefore, 868 in Roman numerals is DCCC (800) + LX (60) + VIII (8) = DCCCLXVIII.
When writing a large number in Roman numerals, we group the number.
To write 868 in Roman numerals, group 868 as 800 + 60 + 8.
800 in Roman Numerals — DCCC
60 in Roman Numerals — LX
8 in Roman Numerals — VIII
So, 868 is written as DCCCLXVIII in Roman numerals.
Students often make errors when writing numbers in Roman numerals. To master Roman numerals, we can learn from common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Multiply DCCC and VIII.
The product of DCCC and VIII is DCXLIV
In this problem, DCCC is 800 and VIII is 8.
The product of DCCC and VIII is 800 × 8 = 6400.
6400 in Roman Numerals can be written as DCXLIV.
A historian distributes MCDXVI artifacts among CLXXII museums. How many artifacts does each museum receive?
Each museum receives VIII artifacts.
To find the number of artifacts a museum gets, divide the number of artifacts by the number of museums.
MCDXVI = 1416
CLXXII = 172
Therefore, 1416 / 172 = 8.
8 in Roman numerals can be written as VIII.
Calculate the sum of DCCCXVIII and L.
The sum of DCCCXVIII and L is DCCCLXVIII.
The sum is obtained by adding two numbers together.
DCCCXVIII = 818
L = 50
818 + 50 = 868
868 in Roman Numerals is DCCCLXVIII.
Determine the difference between CM and DCCCXLVIII.
The difference between CM and DCCCXLVIII is LII.
The difference of two numbers is found by subtracting one from the other.
CM = 900
DCCCXLVIII = 848
900 - 848 = 52
52 in Roman Numerals can be written as LII.
Express the result of 800 + 68 using Roman numerals through the expansion method.
The Roman numeral for 800 + 68 is DCCCLXVIII.
Step 1: Convert numbers 800 and 68 into Roman numerals.
800 - DCCC
68 - LXVIII
Add the numbers together: 800 + 68 = 868
Using the expansion method: 868 = 800 + 60 + 8 = DCCCLXVIII.
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.