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CONCEPT NOTES - ROMAN NUMERALS
This system of numeration does not use place value like
the Arabic system of numeration.
There are seven symbols used in this system which are
as follows:
I, V, X, L, C, D & M. Amazing Fact
Each symbol has a corresponding value:
I stands for 1 v Roman numerals don't have a
V stands for 5 symbol for zero.
X stands for 10
L stands for 50
C stands for 100
D stands for 500
M stands for 1000
PRINCIPLES USED IN ROMAN NUMERATION
SYSTEM CLASS
1. Principle of Addition: Tina wants to meet her
XI
brother who studies in class 11, but the number
written on the name plate is a Roman numeral, so
she is confused whether she is going to the right
classroom. Can you help her?
Class XI ⇒
X = 10 and I = 1
Therefore, XI = 10 + 1 = 11
Hence, Tina is going to the correct classroom.
This example uses the principle of addition.
Addition is only applicable when the first symbol is
greater than the second, third etc.
When a symbol appears after a larger symbol it is
added.
When the principle of addition is used, a symbol
can be used only three times.
Let us take another example:
LXX ⇒
L = 50
IX
X = 10
X = 10 17
Therefore, LXX = 50 + 10 + 10 = 70
2. Principle of Subtraction: Jojo was waiting for his
friend on a street. He saw a board on which two
numbers were written. One was a Roman numeral
another was an Arabic numeral. But he is confused
that which number is written on the board.
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Roman number written on board = IX
I = 1 10
Historical preview X = 10 –1
9
v The history of Roman numerals
is not well documented Therefore, IX = 9
and written accounts are
Subtraction is only applicable when the first symbol
contradictory. It is likely
is less than the second one.
that counting began on the
fingers and that is why we If the symbol appears before a larger symbol it is
count in tens. A single stroke subtracted.
I represents one finger, five Another example,
or a handful could possibly be CD ⇒
represented by V and the X C = 100 500
may have been used because if
you stretch out two handfuls D = 500 –100
of fingers and place them close
the two little fingers cross in 400
an X. Alternatively, an X is like
two Vs, one upside down. Therefore, CD = 400
3. Principle of addition & subtraction are used in
combination.
Rohan was reading an article.
Super Bowl XLVIII
The Super Bowl is the annual championship game
of the National Football League (NFL), the highest
level of professional American football in the
United States, culminating a season that begins
in the late summer of the previous calendar year.
The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify
each game, rather than the year in which it is held.
For example, Super Bowl I was played on January
15, 1967, following the 1966 regular season, while
Super Bowl XLVII was played on February 3, 2013,
following the 2012 season.
He saw numbers written in roman numerals. Let us
have a look.
Roman number XLVIII ⇒
X = 10
L = 50
V=5
I=1
I=1
I=1
⇒ (50 – 10) + (5 + 1 + 1 + 1) = 40 + 8 = 48
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Therefore, XLVIII = 48
Shortcut to
This is an example where principle of addition &
Problem Solving
subtraction are used in combination.
v An accurate way to write the
CONVERSION INTO ROMAN NUMERALS roman numbers is to first take
the thousands, hundreds,
For converting a number to a roman number we break the tens and units.
number into Thousands, Hundreds, Tens and Units and
Example: 1999, one thousand
write down each in turn.
is M, nine hundred is CM,
Example: Deepika wants to convert her year of birth into ninety is XC, nine is IX.
roman numbers. Can you help her do so? Combine all these:
Break 1987 into 1000, 900, 80 and 7, then do each MCMXCIX
conversion
v Develop a mnemonic device
v 1000 = M to remember the order of
v 900 = CM Roman numerals. A common
v 80 = LXXX mnemonic like "I value Xylo-
phones like Cows Dig Milk"
v 7 = VII
puts the Roman numerals I,
So 1987 = MCMLXXXVII V, X, L, C, D and M in order
from smallest to largest. If
LARGER NUMBERS you only have trouble with
the larger numbers, it may
Numbers greater than 1,000 are formed by placing a dash help to remember that "C"
over the symbol, meaning "multiplied by 1,000", but these is equivalent to "century"
are not commonly used. and "M" is equivalent to
5000 10000 50000 100000 "millennium": 100 and 1000,
respectively.
V X L C
v Write the six pairs of
"subtractive" Roman numerals
SOME BASIC COMBINATIONS on a notecard along with
their equivalents in Roman
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 numerals, "IV" is equal to 4,
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX "IX" to 9, "XL" to 40, "XC"
to 90, "CD" to 400 and "CM"
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 to 900. These are called
X XX XXX XL L LX LXX LXXX XC "subtractive" because the
first letter is "subtracted"
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 from the second. Keep the
C CC CCC CD D DC DCC DCCC CM notecard visible at all times so
you know to recognize these
pairs when they appear.
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