Roman numerals are still used today, so it is essential that you know how to read Roman numerals, how to write Roman numerals from 1 to 100 and the tricks that can be useful so that you do not get confused when writing them. or read them correctly. So are the Roman numerals and the Roman numeral system.
In addition, we have prepared some practical examples to make it easier to learn and understand the Roman numerals, which together with this explanatory video we believe you will have all the information you need to pass your next exam on Roman numerals. Keep reading and you will see how learning to master them is much easier than it seems.
The roman numeral system
During all the Roman empire This number system was used. Roman numerals, which was developed in ancient Rome and can still be seen on the facades of some ancient buildings. This numbering system comes from the Etruscan, since ancient carvings have been found that show that the Romans took the symbols that the Etruscans used to represent quantities and adapted them to their alphabet.
We could say that it is considered a non-positional numbering system in which simple ideograms are used, seven capital letters Each of them corresponds to a numerical value.
Despite the time that has passed, there are still references in which this is still used. numeric systemit is true that it is not used on a daily basis and that it is not the most usual, but it is still maintained for certain aspects such as for name the century in which we find ourselves, we can see it in a multitude of clocks to mark the hours, in the chapters of books, etc.
One of the curious differences that we find in front of another of the great numerations of history, the Egyptian numeration, the Roman symbols are written and read from left to right, They are always from highest to lowest value.
Roman numerals from 1 to 100
As we say, Roman numerals are made up of a series of letters. These are:
- I = 1
- V = 5
- X = 10
- L = 50
- C = 100
- D = 500
- M = 1,000
Roman numerals from 1 to 1000
Now how to represent very large numbers in roman numerals? According to this system, you could never get to 4,000, in fact the largest number you could get to would be MMMCMXCIX (3,000 + 900 + 90 + 9 = 3,999. How could you get to 4,000?
Very simple, just add a horizontal line above the number to indicate that that number is multiplied by a thousand. Thus, to represent the number 4,000 with Roman numerals, use IV with a horizontal line above it.
How would we then do to put a much larger number, for example 525,700? Very simple, all you have to do is put a line above the “525” part and do the “700” part in the usual way. In this way, it would be:
But there is still more. So how do you go about rendering one million in roman numerals? It would be as simple as placing a horizontal line above the M. However, the same problem reappears. Once we reach 3,999,999 we could not continue adding, unless there is another way to reach the 4,000,000 (remember that you cannot put 4”M” in a row). The solution, in this case, is to place the line below the number. In this way, to put 4 million it would be enough to put an IV with a line below.
How then would we go about representing a much larger number like 525,700,125? The answer is very simple:
They can also be added top two horizontal stripes instead of a lower one.
Obviously, the numbers are infinite and there has to be a way to represent them unlimitedly. There is, and it is placing more and more stripes. Each line placed above the number means that the number is multiply by a thousand.
Tricks to learn roman numerals
The roman numeral system It is easy to learn and use, you just have to take the trick that is obtained with practice and attention, you can take it as a game and even if you are creative, make your own secret language with others with Roman numerals as its base.
- To be able to learn it quickly, all you need is to know the different symbols and what each of them represents to be able to write and read them easily. For this, in This table shows you the basic numbers about which the rest are being built of numbering:
Once you have managed to learn this symbology, get ready to discover a whole combination of numbers that will open the doors to a world full of wisdom and understanding, it is a matter of quickening the mind. To make things easier, let’s talk about how the rest of the numbers that are not described in this box are constructed:
When we read two Roman numerals together we have to pay attention to a simple question: if the left number is bigger than the one on the right then they are adding up. For example, the number 6 is written VI->V+I. But the same would happen when we see numbers that are the same as 2 that corresponds to II->I+I.
When we read two roman numerals together and the one of the right is larger than the number on the leftwhat is being done is a subtraction. For example, the number 4 would be IV-> IV.
this same rule holds for all numbers that you imagine, has the quantity of numbers that it has. The longer it will take a little longer but it really isn’t complex, you just have to have a little patience to make it easier and faster. For example, the number 30 would be XXX, if we wanted to say 31 it would be XXXI (it is adding) but if we wanted to say 34 we would say XXXIV.
In case that between two figures or more, you find a lower figure, it will subtract its value from the next. For example, the 19th century is the 19th century.
It is important to keep in mind that the order in which the Roman numerals are placed must always be from highest value to lowest value: first the thousands, then the hundreds, then the tens, and then the units.
On the other hand, keep in mind that letters can never be repeated more than three times in a row. There is a series of letters in Roman numerals that cannot be repeated, but others that can, up to a maximum of 3 times.
The letters that can be repeated are I (1), the X, (10), the C (100) and the M (1,000). V (5), L (50), or D (500) cannot be repeated in a row. The explanation is simple. It would not make sense to repeat these letters when there are already others that serve to represent twice their value (for example, repeating “L” twice to represent the number 100 is absurd when it can be represented with a C.
It should be noted that during various historical periods the custom of allowing the use of more than 4 equal symbols in a row was maintained, that is, the number IV could be represented as IIII, or the number 40 as XXXX instead of XL. This practice extended in time until the Middle Ages. Even King Louis XIV claimed to prefer this way of representing the numbering.
Below we show you a series of practical examples with which you can better see what we have explained and understand how Roman numerals are represented:
Roman numerals exercises 1 ESO
So that you can see it in a more visual way and clarify your doubts, we have prepared these examples:
- 8 is written VIII (it would be 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8)
- 36 is written XXXVI (it would be 10 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 36)
- 752 is written DCCLII (500 + 100 + 100 + 50 + 1 + 1 = 752)
- 2011 is written MMXI (1000 + 1000 + 10 + 1 = 2011)
The same criterion is used to form the number 9 which is written IX (that is 10 minus 1). The general rule is that when a smaller number comes before a larger number, it is subtracted. More examples that clarify this rule:
- 4 is written IV
- 9 is written IX
- 14 is written XIV
- 19 is written XIX
- 40 is written XL
- 49 is written IL
- 90 is written XC
- 99 is written IC
- 900 is written CM
Now all you have to do is practice, download a table of Roman numerals and try to write the numbers correctly. And if you ever make a mistake, do not worry or get overwhelmed, take your time to learn them, practice and you will see how in a short time you have learned them.
Curiosities about Roman numerals
Roman Numerals also have a number of curiosities, especially associated with their use throughout the different periods of history.
It should be noted that, although this number system has been basic and easy to use, Numerous mistakes have been made throughout history., thus giving various curious delights. Many of them are related to the misuse of Number 4 that we see in a multitude of clocks, in which we can see how have they written III to point out all the symbology that this number represents in time, while the Roman numeral correct is the IV. But,You know why Is this “mistake” deliberate?
It is said that a Swiss watchmaker created a watch that his sovereign had commissioned him making the mistake of representing the number 4 as IIII and not using the combination IV. the unlucky watchmaker was executed by the wrath of monarchand from that moment, as a tribute, all his colleagues began to use IIII instead of IV.
On the other hand, the IIII was the preferred arrangement for the romans in antiquity, also influencing the coincidence with the name of the important Roman god, Jupiter. In Latin, this name was written as IVPITERthe IV characters being inappropriate as a numeric mode of use.
Finally, it should be noted that one of the monarchs of France, Louis XIV he preferred the IIII layout over IV, so he ordered all his watchmakers to build watches with IIII instead of IV, creating a custom that lasted for centuries.
Surely you will have noticed that Roman numerals start counting from one and did not have no symbol to represent “0”. This happens because the Romans did not need the zero to have a additive number system and not positional. That is, in Roman numerals the figures are added and always have the same value, while in our current system the value of the numbers depends on the position in which the number is (for the value of “3” in the number “13” than in “3,500,000”, instead the “L” or the “D” always have the same value.
roman numerals translator
http://www.novaroma.org/via_romana/numbers.html – A perfect page to convert Arabic numbers to Roman numbers and vice versa
Video to understand roman numerals
Roman Numerals are fairly easy to learn and are very easy to work with when you know the basic rules for using them. Also, Roman numerals are used in a lot more places than you might think, so it’s quite useful to know them. For example, you can tell in what year a certain ancient monument was built if you know how to count in Roman numerals.
If you want to know more INFO about Roman numerals, on the internet you have many videos and tutorials, for example this one that we show you…