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The Romans used the following symbols to represent their counting numbers:
| I | = 1 |
| V | = 5 |
| X | = 10 |
| L | = 50 |
| C | = 100 |
| D | = 500 |
| M | = 1000 |
Certain rules apply.
A letter placed after another letter means that you add the second letter to the first letter. Examples include:
| VI | = 5 + 1 = 6 |
| VII | = 5 + 1 + 1 = 7 |
| VIII | = 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8 |
| XI | = 10 + 1 = 11 |
| LX | = 50 + 10 = 60 |
| MC | = 1000 + 100 = 1100 |
A letter placed before another letter means that you subtract the first letter from the second. Examples include:
| IV | = 5 - 1 = 4 |
| IX | = 10 - 1 = 9 |
| XL | = 50 - 10 = 40 |
| CM | = 1000 - 100 = 900 |
Example
For what number does this Roman numeral stand?
MMCMXLIX
Answer
MM = 2000
CM = 1000 - 100 = 900
XL = 50 - 10 = 40
IX = 10 - 1 = 9
So MMCMXLIX = 2949
