Roman numerals · Usually met around P3
Roman numerals to 3999 and years
Thousands, hundreds, tens, ones: a group at a time.
How to do it
Method
Thousands, hundreds, tens, ones: a group at a time
MMXXVI = 2000 + 20 + 6 = 2026
Another way
Left to right
MCDXCII = 1000 + 400 + 90 + 2 = 1492
In full
The last two letters: D is 500 and M is 1000. The hundreds use C, D and M the way the ones use I, V and X: 400 is CD and 900 is CM. The thousands use M alone: MM is 2000 and MMM is 3000, so the biggest Roman numeral is 3999 (MMMCMXCIX). Write a year place by place: 2026 = 2000 + 20 + 6 = MM + XX + VI = MMXXVI, and 1999 = M + CM + XC + IX = MCMXCIX. To read one, split the letters into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, read each group and add; or go left to right, taking away a smaller letter before a bigger one.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
What number is the numeral on the tablet?
Show the answer and working
Answer: 3000
M is 1000, D is 500, C is 100; a C before D or M takes away: 3000.
Example 2
The numerals on the tablets go up by the same amount each time. What number does “?” stand for?
Show the answer and working
Answer: 800
The first is 500 and each one is 100 more: “?” is tablet 4, so it stands for 800.
Example 3
The year on the tablet is earlier than 2000.
True or false?
Show the answer and working
Answer: False
The tablet says 2014: read it group by group, then compare with 2000.
Practise it in the game →Roman numerals · Free to start, unlimited questions, no download