Roman numerals are a number system that uses letters from the Latin alphabet to represent values. Each letter stands for a specific number, and together they show quantities just like our regular numbers (0–9).
Roman numerals do not use a symbol for zero. They were used long before our modern number system was developed.
Roman numerals are formed by combining letters and adding or subtracting their values. When a smaller numeral appears before a larger one, you subtract. When it appears after, you add.
Always write numerals using the largest values first, except when a smaller numeral comes before a larger one to show subtraction.
Roman numerals can be used to show numbers up to thousands by repeating or combining symbols. The same rules of addition and subtraction apply.
The same letter cannot be repeated more than three times in a row. For example, write 40 as XL (50 − 10), not XXXX.
Even though we use regular numbers every day, Roman numerals are still seen in books, clocks, movie titles, and important events like the Olympics or the Super Bowl.
Understanding Roman numerals helps you read dates, labels, and symbols that appear in both history and modern life.
Learn the basic symbols first, then practice reading and writing them in order. Use patterns to help remember the values.
Practice writing dates or numbers you see around you using Roman numerals. The more you use them, the easier they become to read.