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

While you consider numbers nowadays, the first of all that comes to mind is the decimal system we utilize daily. This method, however, is not the only approach to represent numbers. There are a lot of approaches utilized by various cultures around the world that utilize all kinds of characters. One such approach is Roman numerals.

Given that ancient Rome, Roman numbers have been a method of writing numbers utilizing a blend of characters from the Latin alphabet. It remained throughout the Middle Ages and the modern day, to the extend it is still learned in school, which is perhaps why you have stumbled upon this blog.

Now, we are gonna to walkthrough Roman numerals, what they are, how they operate, and how to transform Roman numbers to normal numbers.

What Are Roman Numbers?

First, let's check a brief look at the past of Roman numbers. Roman numbers were first utilized by the historic Romans, as you may have guessed from the name. They were employed in several angles of the Roman world, consisting of business, architecture, and even warfare.

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

The Roman number approach includes numericals using a combination of letters from the Latin alphabet. Letters are blended to create groups that represent numbers. Seven characters, I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, symbolizes the numericals 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000, separately. You can then combine these numbers to depict any value in the numerical system.

Meaning of the Roman numerals

Although the decimal system is based on the concept of place value, Roman numbers are established on additive and subtractive principles. This means that a Roman number's numeric values are based on the sum of the values of its individual parts. Another key difference is that the decimal system is established on the number 10. In comparison, Roman numbers are based on the numericals 1 (I), 5 (V) and 10 (X).

Examples

Let's check out a few interactive examples of Roman numerals.

The computer game street fighter IV was released in arcades as early as 2008. If we look at the number in the name, we see it includes a V in it. This is because the numerical 5 in Roman number is described by the alphabet V. Preceded by it is an I, or 1. Thus, we comprehend that this is the 4th entry in the series using the properties we will talk about down the article.

The film Star Wars Episode VI was the latest entry in the original trilogy. Looking at the value represented, it includes a V followed by an I. Therefore, we will include a 1 to the value of V, that is 5, concluding this Star Wars movie is the 6th entry in the franchise.

Roman Numerals Chart

To read Roman numbers, it is essential to get a grasp of the numeric value of all the characters. To assist you make this process easy, here is a chart with every Latin alphabets with allocated number values.

How to Convert from Roman Numerals to Decimal Numericals

Since we have the handy table of Roman numerals, we can utilize that data to transform numericals back and forth quickly. Following these steps, you will change these values at any time.

Steps to Transform Roman numerals to Regular Numericals

To convert Roman numbers to regular numbers, we will utilize the additive and subtractive principles we went through.

• Begin with the leftmost Roman numeral in the group.

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

• If the Roman numerical to its right is higher in value, deduct the Roman number on the right from the Roman numeral to its left.

• All you should do now is repeat this method until you reach the end of the Roman numeral group.

Let's take a look how you can change Roman numbers with a few examples.

Example 1

Study the Roman numeral LXXVI.

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

• The Roman number to its right is X or 10. Since 10 is less than 50, we sum the two 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 number to the right of X is V or 5. Since 5 is less than 70, we sum the both values and get 75.

• The Roman numeral to the right of V is I or 1. Because 1 is less than 75, we add the two values and we find 76.

We stop here at the end of the Roman number group. Therefore, the Roman number LXXVI is as same as the regular number 76.

Example 2

Study the Roman numeral MCMIII.

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

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

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

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

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

Given that we have arrived the end of the Roman number group, we stop here with our result. Thus, the Roman number MCMIII is as same as the decimal number 1903.

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

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