Roman Numerals - Rules, Chart | What Are Roman Numerals?

While you consider numericals currently, the first of all that springs to mind is the decimal method we utilize regularly. This method, however, is not the single fashion to represent numbers. There are several methods used by various cultures worldwide that use all kinds of characters. One such method is Roman numerals.

Since ancient Rome, Roman numerals have been a method of expressing numericals using a blend of characters from the Latin alphabet. It existed during the Middle Ages and the modern day, to the extend it is still taught in school, that is perhaps why you have stumbled upon this blog.

Now, we are gonna to walkthrough Roman numerals, definition, how they function, and how to transform Roman numerals to regular numbers.

What Are Roman Numerals?

First, let's take a brief look at the history of Roman numerals. Roman numbers were first used by the ancient Romans, as you may have expected from the name. They were employed in multiple aspects of the Roman world, consisting of business, architecture, and even warfare.

Presently, its extensive use is primarily attributed to artistic reasons. You may have seen Roman numerals as hour marks on a clock, chapter numbers, page numbering, copyright dates, or in movie sequels (e.g., The Godfather Part II).

The Roman numeral approach includes numericals employing a mixture of letters from the Latin alphabet. Characters are mixed to create groups that represent numericals. Seven characters, I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, depicts the numericals 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000, individually. You can then mix these numericals to represent any value in the numerical system.

Meaning of the Roman numerals

Even though the decimal system is based on the ideas of place value, Roman numbers are established on additive and subtractive principles. This means that a Roman numeral's numeric values are founded on the sum of the values of its particular parts. Another major difference is that the decimal system is based on the number 10. In comparison, Roman numerals are based on the numbers 1 (I), 5 (V) and 10 (X).

Examples

Let's check out a few hands-on examples of Roman numbers.

The video game street fighter IV was released in arcades back in 2008. If we look at the number in the name, we see it includes a V in it. This is due to the fact number 5 in Roman numerals is portrayed by the letter V. Preceded by it is an I, or 1. Hence, we grasp that this is the 4th entry in the series using the properties we will speak on subsequently in the article.

The film Star Wars Episode VI was the last entry in the original trilogy. Observing the value described, it includes a V ensued by an I. Hence, we will include a 1 to the value of V, which is 5, letting us know this Star Wars movie is the 6th episode in the franchise.

Roman Numerals Chart

To read Roman numbers, it is important to get a grasp of the numeric value of all the letters. To help make this process easy, here is a chart with every Latin letters with defined number values.

How to Change from Roman Numbers to Everyday Numericals

Since we have the convenient table of Roman numerals, we can utilize that data to change numbers back and forth promptly. Following these steps, you will convert these values at any time.

Steps to Transform Roman numbers to Decimal Numbers

To transform Roman numbers to regular numbers, we will use the additive and subtractive principles we discussed.

• Start at the leftmost Roman numeral in the group.

• If the Roman numeral to its right is lesser in value, then sum the two values.

• If the Roman numerical to its right is more in value, subtract the Roman number on the right from the Roman numbers to its left.

• All you must do now is repeat this process until you arrive at the end of the Roman numeral group.

Let's take a look how you can change Roman numerals with a some examples.

Example 1

Study the Roman numeral LXXVI.

• Initiate with the leftmost Roman numeral, which is L or 50.

• The Roman number to its right is X or 10. Because 10 is lesser than 50, we sum the both values and get 60.

• The Roman number to the right of X is X again. We sum 10 to 60 and the result is 70.

• The Roman numeral to the right of X is V or 5. Considering 5 is less than 70, we sum the both values and the result is 75.

• The Roman number to the right of V is I or 1. Since 1 is less than 75, we sum the two values and get 76.

We cease here at the end of the Roman number group. Hence, the Roman numeral LXXVI is as same as the decimal number 76.

Example 2

Consider the Roman number MCMIII.

• Start at the leftmost Roman number, which is M or 1000.

• The Roman numeral to its right is C or 100. Because 100 is less than 1000, and it is followed by an M, this value stands at 900.

• The Roman numeral to the right of M is I or 1. Since 1 is less than 1900, we add the two values and get 1901.

• The Roman number to the right of I is I again. We add 1 to 1901 and get 1902.

• The Roman number to the right of I is I again. We sum 1 to 1902 and the answer is 1903.

Given that we have arrived the end of the Roman numeral group, we halt here with our answer. So, the Roman numeral MCMIII is as same as the decimal number 1903.

With this information and a little practice, you will transform Roman numerals to decimal numbers like a professional!

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