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

While you think about numbers nowadays, the first thing that springs to mind is the decimal method we use regularly. This method, however, is not the single fashion to represent numericals. There are many methods utilized by different cultures worldwide that utilize all kinds of symbols. One of system is Roman numbers.

Since ancient Rome, Roman numerals have been a way of writing numbers using a combination of characters from the Latin alphabet. It existed throughout the Middle Ages and the modern day, to the point it is still educated in school, that is probably why you have come across this article.

Today, we are gonna to walkthrough Roman numerals, definition, how they work, and how to convert Roman numbers to regular numbers.

What Are Roman Numbers?

First, let's take a quick look at the past of Roman numerals. Roman numericals were initially used by the ancient Romans, as you may have predicted from the name. They were employed in many aspects of the Roman world, including trade, architecture, and even war.

Presently, its main use is mainly because of its artistic reasons. You may 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 III).

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

Meaning of the Roman numerals

Although the decimal system is established 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 established on the sum of the values of its particular parts. Another major distinction is that the decimal approach is based on the number 10. In contrast, Roman numerals are established on the numericals 1 (I), 5 (V) and 10 (X).

Examples

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

The video game street fighter IV was released in arcades way back in 2008. If we look at the number in the title, we see it includes a V in it. This is because the numerical 5 in Roman number is described by the letter V. Preceded by it is an I, or 1. Hence, we comprehend that this is the 4th to enter in the series utilizing the characteristics we will speak on down the article.

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

Roman Numerals Chart

To read Roman numbers, it is crucial to get a grasp of the numeric value of all the characters. To help make this function easy, here is a chart with every Latin letters with allocated numeric values.

How to Convert from Roman Numerals to Everyday Numbers

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

Steps to Transform Roman numerals to Decimal Numericals

To change Roman numbers to everyday numbers, we will use the linear and subtractive principles we talked about.

• Begin with the leftmost Roman numerical 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 greater in value, subtract the Roman numeral on the right from the Roman numbers to its left.

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

Let's take a look how you can convert 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. Since 10 is less than 50, we add the both values and get 60.

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

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

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

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

Example 2

Take into account the Roman numeral MCMIII.

• Initiate with the leftmost Roman numeral, that 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 means 900.

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

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

• The Roman numeral to the right of I is I again. We add 1 to 1902 and get 1903.

Given that we have arrived the end of the Roman number group, we halt here with our result. So, the Roman number MCMIII is equivalent to the decimal number 1903.

With this data and a little practice, you will convert Roman numbers to regular numbers like a professional!

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