Lesson 2 – Advanced Roman Numerals

  • Objective: Review and practise advanced Roman numerals

Introductory Video

Introduction

Now that you know the basics of Roman numerals, like I (1), V (5), and X (10), it’s time to learn about advanced Roman numerals. There are more letters that represent bigger numbers, such as L, C, D, and M. Just like before, we can add or subtract these numbers depending on how they are placed in a sequence. Let’s explore these new numerals and learn how to write bigger numbers!

Advanced Roman Numerals

Here are the advanced Roman numerals that we will focus on:

  1. L = 50
    The letter L stands for 50.
  2. C = 100
    The letter C stands for 100.
  3. D = 500
    The letter D represents 500.
  4. M = 1,000
    The letter M stands for 1,000.

How Advanced Roman Numerals Work

Roman numerals follow similar rules for adding and subtracting as before:

Adding Roman Numerals

If a smaller numeral comes after a bigger numeral, you add them.

  • LX = 50 + 10 = 60
    Here, L is 50, and X is 10, so we add them to make 60.
  • CL = 100 + 50 = 150
    In this example, C is 100, and L is 50, which equals 150.
  • MD = 1,000 + 500 = 1,500
    M represents 1,000, and D is 500, so when added together, they make 1,500.

Subtracting Roman Numerals

If a smaller numeral comes before a bigger numeral, you subtract it.

  • XC = 100 – 10 = 90
    Here, X (10) comes before C (100), so you subtract 10 from 100 to get 90.
  • CD = 500 – 100 = 400
    In this example, C is 100, and D is 500, so we subtract 100 from 500 to get 400.
  • CM = 1,000 – 100 = 900
    When C comes before M, you subtract 100 from 1,000 to get 900.

Examples of Big Numbers in Roman Numerals

Now that we have more letters, we can write even bigger numbers. Here are some examples:

  • LXX = 50 + 10 + 10 = 70
    L is 50, and two X’s make 20 more, which adds up to 70.
  • CXL = 100 + (50 – 10) = 140
    C is 100, and XL is 40 (because X is 10 and L is 50, and we subtract 10 from 50).
  • DCCC = 500 + 100 + 100 + 100 = 800
    D is 500, and three C’s (each 100) make 800 in total.
  • MCM = 1,000 + (1,000 – 100) = 1,900
    M is 1,000, and CM is 900, so together, they make 1,900.

Interesting Facts About Roman Numerals

  • Roman numerals were used by the Romans for thousands of years and are still used today in places like clocks, books, and important events like the Olympics.
  • The year is sometimes written in Roman numerals, like the year 2024, which is written as MMXXIV.
  • The largest Roman numeral commonly used is MMM, which equals 3,000.

Conclusion

Now you know the advanced Roman numerals, like L, C, D, and M, and how they help us write even bigger numbers. Roman numerals are a special way of counting that have been used for thousands of years. Whether you’re adding or subtracting these letters, you can use them to write numbers as large as 1,000 or more! Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be a Roman numeral expert!