ROMAN NUMERALS

The Roman numerals are the numeral system of the ancient Roman Empire. It is a
mixture of Latin alphabets and traditional tally marks. The numeral system is
continued to be used till to date.

They are combined to show the sum [where M + D + C = MDC (1,600)] or

sometimes their difference of their values. The first ten numerals (excluding zero)
are:

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X.

The Roman numerals are normally uses in clock faces, music theory, a book’s
publication year, a film’s production year, copyright year, successing rulers (King
Xyz I, King Xyz II…).

Roman numerals are based on 7 symbols: letter I (1, known as a stroke), letter V
(5, known as a chevron), letter X (10, known as a cross-stroke), letter L (50) and
letter C (came from the Latin word centum, meaning 100); letter D (500) and the
letter M (came from the Latin word mille, meaning 1000).

Symbol Value
I 1 (one)
V 5 (five)
X 10 (ten)
L 50 (fifty)
C 100 (one hundred)
D 500 (five hundred)
M 1000 (one thousand)

How to calculate the Roman numerals?

E.g.: DCCCLXXXVIII

Method: Add them all up:

500 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 50 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1

And you get 888.

For larger numbers (>4000), a bar can be place on top or just put parentheses
(brackets) around it, meaning multiplication by 1000 (M). Putting a bar on top is
not supported by word processors, though.

Symbol Value
(V) 5000 (five thousand)
(X) 10,000 (ten thousand)
(L) 50,000 (fifty thousand)
(C) 100,000 (one hundred thousand)
(D) 500,000 (five hundred thousand)
(M) 1,000,000 (one million)
There is also another system existing:

M, MM, MMM, (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), (IX), (X)

The subtractive principle/law of preceding numbers

For certain numbers like 4 and 9, it can be expressed as IV and IX, each meaning
“one before five” and “one before ten” respectively. To calculate, here’s the
formula: When a smaller unit comes before a larger unit (e.g. XL), the smaller unit
is negative. This means that, if XL, for example, will be (-10) + 50, and you get
40.

But there’s something to remember: only the multiples of one (I, X, C, M, (X) and
(C)) can only precede the next two larger units, as it goes:

I can only precede V and X;

X can only precede L and C;
C can only precede D and M;
M can only precede (V) and (X);
(X) can only precede (L) and (C);
(C) can only precede (D) and (M).

V, L, D, (V), (L) and (D) cannot precede any larger symbol.

Therefore numbers like IC (to express 99) or VM (to express 995) are invalid.
 Roman Arabic Remarks
- 0 N was used once meaning null in AD
735.
I 1
II 2
III 3
IIII or IV 4 To save space, some people preferred
IV.
V 5
VI 6
VII 7
VIII 8 IIX (2 before 10) was rarely used
during the Middle Ages.
IX 9
X 10 VV was rarely used during the Middle
Ages.
XI 11
XII 12
XV 15
XIX 19
XX 20
XXV 25
XXX 30
XXXV 35
XL 40 Some wrote ‘XXXX’.
XLIX 49 IL is incorrect. See the subtractive
principle.
L 50
LI 51
LV 55
LX 60
LXX 70
LXXX 80
XC 90 Some wrote ‘LXXXX’.
XCIX 99 IC is incorrect. See the subtractive
principle.
C 100
CL 150
CC 200
CD 400 Some wrote CCCC
D 500
DC 600
DCLXVI 666 Number of the devil/beast; it uses all
symbols up to D.
DCCC 800
CM 900 Some wrote DCCCC
CMXCIX 999 IM is incorrect. See the subtractive
Fractional symbols

The Roman numerals have a set for fractions, but only for fractions of 12 (XII).
The symbols are firstly intended for their currency, as their currency is using base
12.

Symbol Fraction Meaning…

an ounce
●
a sixth
●●
a quarter
●●●
a third
●●●●
five-ounce
●●●●●
a half; semi
S
seven-ounce
S●
two-thirds
S●●
three-quarter
S●●●
five-sixths
S●●●●
an ounce less
S●●●●●
one unit
I 1