System of numerical

notations used by
Romans

Additive and
subtractive systems
Letters used to
denote certain
base numbers

Example
Ellen is twenty-five years old. The
given number word twenty-five can
be written in Hindu-Arabic numeral
as 25. It can be written as XXV. We
call these symbols Roman
numerals.

Study the following

HindiArabic
Numeral
s

Roman
Numeral
s

10

50

100

500

1000

III means 3
VI means 6
IX means 9
CC means 200
LXX means 70

XX means 20
XL means 40
DL means 50

Rules in Using Roman Numerals

Rule 1.
When using
symbols are
repeated,
add their
values. Only
I, X, and C
can be
repeated up
to 3 times.
Examples:
XX =
10+10= 20
CC= 100
+100 = 200

Rule 2.
When a
symbol of
lesser value
follows a
symbol of
greater value,
add their
values.
Examples:
VII = 5 +1 +1
=7
LXXV = 50 +
10 +10 +5 =
75

Rule 3.
When a symbol
of lesser value
comes before a
symbol of
greater value,
subtract the
lesser value
from the greater
value.
Examples:
IX = 10 1 = 9
XC = 100 10
= 90

I.
The only letter that can be written before X is
I.
The only letter that can be written before L is
X.
The only letter that can be written before C is
X.
The only letter that can be written before D
is C
.
The only letter that can be written before C is
M.

Exercises
Complete the table.
Roman Numeral

Numeral Meaning

Hindu-Arabic
Numeral

XXIV

24

VII

XX

20

LXX

70

CLV

155

LXXIV

74

CDLXXXI

481

Reference:
Degolacion,R.J., Agtarap M.S.,Nery , M.F.T., Pasiliao,
A.L.F.,(2013).Soaring 21st Century Mathematics.
Quezon City, Philippines: phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
Cajori,1993,retrieved from
(http://mathworld.wolfram.com/RomanNumerals.html)