Roman numeral | Chart & Facts (2025)

Table of Contents

What are Roman numerals? What are Roman numerals used for today? How do Roman numerals work? Where do Roman numerals come from? Is it still important to learn Roman numerals? FAQs

mathematics

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

What are Roman numerals?

Roman numerals are the symbols used in a system of numerical notation based on the ancient Roman system. The symbols are I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, standing respectively for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000.

What are Roman numerals used for today?

Examples of the use of Roman numerals today include the denotation of book chapters, the title of each year’s National Football League Super Bowl as well as the titles of Summer and Winter Olympics, and the marking of hours on clock faces.

How do Roman numerals work?

In the Roman numeral system, the symbols I, V, X, L, C, D, and M stand respectively for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 in the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. A symbol placed after another of equal or greater value adds its value. A symbol placed before one of greater value subtracts its value. A bar placed over a number multiplies its value by 1,000.

Where do Roman numerals come from?

As in all such matters, the origin of the Roman numeral system of numerical notation is obscure, although the changes in their forms since the 3rd century BCE are well known. Roman numerals were likely developed as a result of a need for a common method of counting in order to better conduct trade.

Is it still important to learn Roman numerals?

Despite the impracticality of using Roman numerals for mathematical calculations, which led to the widespread use of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system we know today, some people do still argue for the importance of teaching Roman numerals in schools. Proponents believe that Roman numerals have enduring cultural relevance, as seen in their continued use in sporting event titles and book chapters. Learn more.

Roman numeral, any of the symbols used in a system of numerical notation based on the ancient Roman system. The symbols are I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, standing respectively for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 in the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. A symbol placed after another of equal or greater value adds its value—e.g., II = 1 + 1 = 2 and LVIII = 50 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 58. Usually only three identical symbols can be used consecutively; to express numbers beginning with a 4 or a 9, a symbol is placed before one of greater value to subtract its value—e.g., IV = −1 + 5 = 4, XC = −10 + 100 = 90, and MCMLXXXIX = 1,000 −100 + 1,000 + 50 + 10 + 10 + 10 −1 +10 = 1,989. The exceptions are 4,000, which is sometimes written as MMMM, and clocks, which usually display 4 as IIII. A bar called a vinculum placed over a number multiplies its value by 1,000.

Below is a table of Arabic numerals and their Roman numeral equivalents.

Arabic and Roman numerals
Arabic	Roman
1	I
2	II
3	III
4	IV
5	V
6	VI
7	VII
8	VIII
9	IX
10	X
11	XI
12	XII
13	XIII
14	XIV
15	XV
16	XVI
17	XVII
18	XVIII
19	XIX
20	XX
21	XXI
22	XXII
23	XXIII
24	XXIV
30	XXX
40	XL
50	L
60	LX
70	LXX
80	LXXX
90	XC
100	C
101	CI
102	CII
200	CC
300	CCC
400	CD
500	D
600	DC
700	DCC
800	DCCC
900	CM
1,000	M
1,001	MI
1,002	MII
1,900	MCM
2,000	MM
2,001	MMI
2,002	MMII
2,100	MMC
3,000	MMM
4,000	IV or MMMM
5,000	V

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.

FAQs

How do you answer Roman numerals? ›

Rules to Write Roman Numerals

The value of the symbol is added to itself, as many times as it is repeated. (Eg. II – 2, XX – 20 and XXX – 30). A symbol can be repeated only for three times, for example XXX = 30, CC = 200, etc. Symbols V, L, and D are never repeated.

Find Out More ›

What are the 7 Roman numerals? ›

The Roman numeral system uses only seven symbols: I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. I represents the number 1, V represents 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500, and M is 1,000.

Learn More ›

What does XXL stand for in Roman numerals? ›

X is equivalent to 10 and L is equivalent to 50. X + X = 20. Since X is of lesser value than L and comes before the greater number, the rule is to subtract: 50 - 20 = 30. XXL = 30.

Learn More Now ›

What is unique about Roman numerals? ›

Roman numerals use different symbols for each power of ten and there is no zero symbol, in contrast with the place value notation of Arabic numerals (in which place-keeping zeros enable the same digit to represent different powers of ten).

Find Out More ›

What was the main purpose of Roman numerals? ›

Roman numerals are a numeric system which utilizes a series or combination of alpha characters, or letters, which represent numeric values. These characters, when arranged in the correct order, were designed to represent a sophisticated counting system that was used in the Roman Empire for trading and commerce.

Read The Full Story ›

What is the rule #1 in Roman Numerals? ›

Rule #1: When reading Roman Numerals, the value of the number is added from left to right if the left numeral is greater than the right numeral. Rule #2: If the left numeral is smaller than the right numeral, subtract the value of the left value from the right numeral.

Discover More Details ›

What does 777 mean in Roman Numerals? ›

DCCLXXVII Roman Numerals in numbers is 777.

View Details ›

What does d mean in Roman Numerals? ›

The number 500 in Roman Numerals is directly represented by the letter D. Hence, there is no method to perform addition or subtraction for D Roman Numerals. Thus, the numerical value of D Roman Numerals is 500.

Discover More ›

What is z in Roman Numerals? ›

Z, Symbol. the 26th in order or in a series, or, when I is omitted, the 25th. (sometimes l.c.) the medieval Roman numeral for 2000. Cf. Roman numerals.

Explore More ›

What is the Roman numeral for 1 million? ›

M in Roman numerals stands for thousand. To write 1 million in Roman numerals, we can use the symbol MM/mm. It means 1000 x 1000, which equals 1,000,000 or 1 million. You would have noticed MM or mm in financial reports and accounts.

View Details ›

What is the Roman numeral for 5000? ›

5000 in Roman numerals is V̅. To represent the number 5000 in Roman numerals we use the symbol V with a vinculum (bar) on it. Hence, the Roman number of 5000 = V̅.

What does v mean in Roman numerals? ›

here are the commonly used Roman numerals: I = 1. L = 50 M = 1000. V = 5.

Know More ›

What is 3 in Roman numerals? ›

3 in Roman Numerals is III.

See Details ›

How old is Roman numerals? ›

The system dates back about 2,000 years, to the time of ancient Rome. Roman numerals have been mostly replaced by Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3…).

Discover More Details ›

Who invented Roman numerals? ›

The origin of Roman numerals can be traced back to ancient Rome. The Roman numeral system is believed to have evolved around the 7th century BCE from the Etruscan numeral system, which itself had roots in the ancient Greek numeral system.

Learn More ›

Do year 3 learn Roman numerals? ›

Children first come across Roman numerals in Year 3 when learning how to tell the time.

Keep Reading ›