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

While you imagine numbers currently, the first of all that comes to mind is the decimal method we use regularly. This method, however, is not the single way to portray numericals. There are multiple methods utilized by different cultures all over the world that use all kinds of characters. Classified among many one of the method is Roman numbers.

Given that ancient Rome, Roman numbers have become a method of expressing numericals utilizing a mixture of letters from the Latin alphabet. It remained during the Middle Ages and the modern day, to the extend it is still learned in school, that is possibly why you have come across this blog.

Today, we are going to look at Roman numbers, definition, how they function, and how to change Roman numerals to ordinary numbers.

What Are Roman Numbers?

First, let's look at a brief look at the past of Roman numerals. Roman numbers were first utilized by the ancient Romans, as you may have predicted from the name. They were utilized in several aspects of the Roman world, including business, architecture, and even warfare.

Currently, its extensive use is mainly due to aesthetic reasons. You might have seen Roman numbers as hour marks on a clock, chapter numbers, page numbering, copyright dates, or in movie sequels (e.g., The Godfather Part III).

The Roman number system includes numericals utilizing a blend of letters from the Latin alphabet. Letters are combined to form groups that portray numbers. Seven alphabets, I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, depicts the numericals 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000, respectively. You can then blend these numbers to represent any value in the number system.

Meaning of the Roman numerals

While the decimal system is founded on the concept of place value, Roman numerals are based on additive and subtractive principles. This refers that a Roman number's numeric values are established on the sum of the values of its individual parts. One more major difference is that the decimal system is established on the number 10. In contrast, Roman numerals are based on the numbers 1 (I), 5 (V) and 10 (X).

Examples

Let's take a look at a few interactive examples of Roman numerals.

The video game street fighter IV was released in arcades back in 2008. If we observe the numericals in the title, we see it includes a V in it. This is because the number 5 in Roman number is represented by the alphabet V. Preceded by it is an I, or 1. Therefore, we understand that this is the 4th entry in the series employing the properties we will speak on subsequently in the article.

The film Star Wars Episode VI was the latest entry in the original trilogy. Observing the value portrayed, it contains a V followed by an I. Thus, we will add a 1 to the value of V, that is 5, letting us know this Star Wars film is the 6th entry in the series.

Roman Numerals Chart

To read Roman numbers, it is important to understand the numeric value of all the letters. To help make this operation easy, here is a chart with all Latin characters with allocated numeric values.

How to Transform from Roman Numerals to Regular Numericals

Since we have the handy table of Roman numerals, we can use that information to change numericals back and forth promptly. Following these steps, you will convert these values at any time.

Steps to Transform Roman numbers to Regular Numbers

To convert Roman numbers to everyday numericals, we will utilize the additive and subtractive principles we talked about.

• Start at the leftmost Roman numerical in the group.

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

• If the Roman number to its right is more in value, subtract the Roman numeral on the right out of the Roman numeral to its left.

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

Let's see how you can convert Roman numerals with a few examples.

Example 1

Take a look at the Roman numeral LXXVI.

• Initiate with the leftmost Roman number, that is L or 50.

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

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

• The Roman numeral to the right of X is V or 5. Because 5 is less than 70, we sum the two values and we find 75.

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

We stop here at the end of the Roman numeral group. Therefore, the Roman number LXXVI is equal to the regular number 76.

Example 2

Consider the Roman number MCMIII.

• Initiate with the leftmost Roman numeral, that is M or 1000.

• The Roman numeral to its right is C or 100. Since 100 is less than 1000, and it is ensued by an M, this value refers to 900.

• The Roman numeral to the right of M is I or 1. Considering 1 is less than 1900, we sum the two values and the result is 1901.

• The Roman numeral to the right of I is I again. We sum 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.

Because we have arrived the end of the Roman numeral group, we halt here with our result. Thus, the Roman number MCMIII is equal to the decimal number 1903.

With this information and a some practice, you will convert Roman numbers to regular numbers like a pro!

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