Roman Numerals I, V, X, L, C, D, M - 3rd Grade Math (2025)

Table of Contents

Roman Numerals L, C, D, M Rules for Roman Numerals Roman Numerals: Basic Numbers Converting Roman Numerals to Digits Converting Digits to Roman Numerals FAQs

Can you guess what 4 is?

You may think it's 4 I's, but it's actually:

IV = 4

What is that V symbol?

In Roman numerals, V is the symbol for 5.

V = 5

In Roman numerals, you never write more than 3 of the same symbol in a row.

That's why after III comes IV.

So, what do you think comes after V?

We add another I.

VI = 6

We can add one more I to get 7.

VII = 7

In Roman numerals, it's ok to have 3 of any symbol in a row, but no more. So after 7 comes:

VIII = 8

Now what do we do? We can't add another I. So we need to use a new bigger symbol:

X = 10

To make 9, we take away 1 from 10:

IX = 9

Remember: when we write I before a bigger symbol like V or X, we take away from that number.

Great job learning to count from I to X in Roman numerals.

To count to 10, you've had to use 3 of the symbols that make up Roman numerals: I, V, X.

Now let's learn the other 4 symbols: L, C, D, and M.

Roman Numerals L, C, D, M

Roman numerals are all made up of seven symbols.

You just learned I, V, and X. Here are the 4 bigger symbols:

L = 50

C = 100

Tip: a century is 100 years. It starts with c.

D = 500
See Also
Roman Numerals Converter and Translator Roman Numerals Converter - Online Numbers/Date/Year Translator Roman Numerals Converter Roman numeral | Chart & Facts

M = 1,000

Tip: a millennium is 1,000 years! It starts with m.

TIP!

You can use this sentence to help you remember the order:

Rules for Roman Numerals

All Roman numerals are combinations of the basic 7 symbols.

These combinations follow four important rules:

Rule 1: When a smaller symbol is after a greater symbol, it's added.

For example,

VI = 5 + 1 = 6

Rule 2: If a symbol comes after itself, it's added.

XX = 10 + 10 = 20

CCLX = 100 + 100 + 50 + 10 = 260

Rule 3: When a smaller symbol appears before a greater symbol, it is subtracted.

For example,

IX = 10 - 1 = 9

XL = 50 - 10 = 40

CM = 1000 - 100 = 900

Rule 4: The same symbol cannot be used more than three times in a row.

For example,

XXX = 10 + 10 + 10 = 30, but 40 is not XXXX.

CCC = 100 + 100 + 100 = 300, but 400 is not CCCC.

Roman Numerals: Basic Numbers

Let's now use these rules to learn some basic Roman numerals.

1 = I

2 = 1 + 1 = II

3 = 1 + 1 + 1 = III

4 = 5 - 1 = IV

5 = V

6 = 5 + 1 = VI

7 = 5 + 1 + 1 = VII

8 = 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = VIII

9 = 10 - 1 = IX
See Also
Roman Numerals Converter

10 = X

20 = 10 + 10 = XX

30 = 10 + 10 + 10 = XXX

40 = 50 - 10 = XL

50 = L

60 = 50 + 10 = LX

70 = 50 + 10 + 10 = LXX

80 = 50 + 10 + 10 + 10 = LXXX

90 = 100 - 10 = XC

100 = C

200 = 100 + 100 = CC

300 = 100 + 100 + 100 = CCC

400 = 500 - 100 = CD

500 = D

600 = 500 + 100 = DC

700 = 500 + 100 + 100 = DCC

800 = 500 + 100 + 100 + 100 = DCCC

900 = 1000 - 100 = CM

1000 = M

Great work! 👏

Converting Roman Numerals to Digits

Look at this Roman numeral.

CDLXIV

To convert a Roman numeral into digits, find the value of each symbol in it, and then add or subtract these values.

Let's try to do that now!

First, let's find the value of each symbol.

Now, let's see if there are any smaller symbols appearing before bigger symbols.

This is because we need to subtract those values (Rule 3)!

Here is Rule 3 one more time:

Rule 3: When a smaller symbol appears before a greater symbol, it is subtracted.

Now, let's add/subtract the values.

CDLXIV = (500 - 100) + (50 + 10) + (5 - 1)

= 400 + 60 + 4

So, what's the value of this Roman numeral?

Yes:

CDLXIV = 464

Awesome!

Let's try one more example.

MDCXLI

How can we turn this into a number?

First, we find the values of all the symbols.

Next, we find any smaller symbols that appear before bigger symbols.

Finally, we add or subtract the values.

MDCXLI = 1000 + 500 + 100 + (50 - 10) + 1

= 1000 + 600 + 40 + 1

So, the value of this Roman numeral is:

MDCXLI = 1,641

Perfect.

Converting Digits to Roman Numerals

Now, let's try converting this number into a Roman numeral.

2,342

To convert a number into a Roman numeral, break the number into thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones. Then write the letters for each value.

Let's try it.

2,342 = 2000 + 300 + 40 + 2

So, what is the answer?

2,342 = MMCCCXLII

Nice job! 👏

Let's try one last example.

Convert this number into a Roman numeral.

978

Let's do it!

978 = 900 + 70 + 8

So, what's the answer?

978 = CMLXXXVIII

You did great learning about Roman numerals. 👏

Try the practice to see if you got it.

FAQs

Roman Numerals I, V, X, L, C, D, M - 3rd Grade Math? ›

Letters represent the numbers in the Roman number system: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500, M = 1,000.

Get More Info Here ›

How do you answer 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.

What is the easiest way to understand Roman Numerals? ›

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.

View Details ›

Is Roman numeral 3 with L or I? ›

Roman Numerals = I + I + I. 3 in Roman Numerals = III.

What are the 7 rules of Roman Numerals? ›

Rules for Roman Numerals

Rule 1: When a smaller symbol is after a greater symbol, it's added.
Rule 2: If a symbol comes after itself, it's added.
Rule 3: When a smaller symbol appears before a greater symbol, it is subtracted.
Rule 4: The same symbol cannot be used more than three times in a row.

May 3, 2023

Find Out More ›

How to explain Roman numerals to a child? ›

Roman numerals are a counting system that originated in ancient Rome. In Roman numerals, numbers are depicted using letters: for instance, 'I' correspond to '1' and 'IV' means '4'. Although Arabic numerals are more common today, there are still many places where the Roman counting system can be found.

Learn More Now ›

What are Roman numerals for dummies? ›

The Roman numeral system uses seven letters as numerals: I = 1; V = 5; X = 10; L = 50; C = 100; D = 500; M = 1,000. The numerals can be written as either capital or lowercase letters. A bar over a numeral multiplies its value by 1,000: for example, V = 5,000 and X = 10,000.

Tell Me More ›

What are Roman Numerals in math examples? ›

These letters individually hold a numeric value. Such as the numeric value of I is 1, V is 5, X is 10, L is 50, C is 100, D is 500, and M is 1000 respectively. Counting in the Roman numerals is represented as One (I), two (II), three (III), four (IV), five (V), and so on.

What does v mean in Roman Numerals? ›

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

Explore More ›

What does the letter 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.

Explore More ›

What does m mean in Roman Numerals? ›

M Roman Numerals in numbers is 1000. There are seven symbols (alphabets) used in the Roman Numeral system. They are I, V, X , L, C, D and M. They represent the numbers 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 respectively. Since M is the fundamental symbol for Roman numerals, it represents the number 1000.

See Details ›

How do you decode 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.

What does xxix mean? ›

Why is 29 Written in Roman Numerals as XXIX? XXIX Roman numerals means 29. We write 9 as IX, and 10 as X. Therefore, XXIX is written as XX + IX = 20 + 9 = XXIX.