Roman numeral

Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Numbers in this system are represented by combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet.

History

Roman numerals, as used today, are based on seven symbols: I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. The use of Roman numerals continued long after the decline of the Roman Empire. From the 14th century on, Roman numerals began to be replaced in most contexts by the more convenient Arabic numerals; however, this process was gradual, and the use of Roman numerals persists in some minor applications to this day.

Symbols and values

The numbers 1 to 10 are usually expressed in Roman numerals as follows:

• I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X.

The Roman numeral system is a subtractive number system in which the value of a digit in a number depends on its position relative to other digits. For example, the Roman numeral for two (II) is formed by combining two ones, while the Roman numeral for four (IV) is formed by subtracting one (I) from five (V).

Modern usage

In modern times, Roman numerals are used in certain specific contexts, such as in the names of monarchs or popes (e.g., Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II), in the numbering of sequels of movies or books (e.g., Rocky IV, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II), in the notation of the hours on clocks and watches, and in the numbering of points in an outline.

See also

• Arabic numerals
• Greek numerals
• Hebrew numerals
• Chinese numerals
• Indian numerals

Roman numeral Resources
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