Roman numbers and their translation. How to read Roman numerals

21st	XXI
20th	XX
19th	XIX
18th	XVIII
17th	XVII
16th	XVI
15th	XV
14th	XIV
13th	XIII
12th	XII
11th	XI
10th	X
9th	IX
8th	VIII
7th	VII
6th	VI
5th	V
4th	IV
3rd	III
2nd	II
1st	I

Roman numerals, invented more than 2,500 years ago, were used by Europeans for two millennia before being replaced by Arabic numerals. This happened because Roman numerals are quite difficult to write down, or any arithmetic operations It is much more difficult to perform in the Roman system than in the Arabic number system. Despite the fact that the Roman system is not often used today, this does not mean that it has become irrelevant. In most cases, centuries are denoted by Roman numerals, but years or exact dates It is customary to write in Arabic numerals.

Roman numerals are also used when writing serial numbers of monarchs, encyclopedic volumes, valencies of various chemical elements. The dials of watches also often use Roman numerals.

Roman numerals are certain signs with which decimal places and their halves are written. For this, only seven capital letters of the Latin alphabet are used. The number 1 corresponds to the Roman numeral I, 5 – V, 10 – X, 50 – L, 100 – C, 500 – D, 1000 – M. When designating natural numbers these numbers are repeated. So 2 can be written using two times I, that is, 2 – II, 3 - three letters I, that is, 3 – III. If a smaller digit comes before a larger one, then the principle of subtraction is used (the smaller digit is subtracted from the larger one). Thus, the number 4 is depicted as IV (that is, 5-1).

In case big number stands in front of the smaller one, they are added together, for example, 6 is written in the Roman system as VI (that is, 5+1).

If you are used to writing numbers in Arabic numerals, then some difficulties may arise when you need to write centuries in Roman numerals, a number or a date. You can convert any number from the Arabic system to the Roman number system and vice versa very easily and very quickly using the convenient converter on our website.

On your computer keyboard, just go to English language to easily write any number in Roman numerals.

Apparently, the ancient Romans preferred straight lines, which is why all their numbers are straight and strict. However, Roman numerals are nothing more than a simplified representation of fingers human hand. The numbers one to four resemble outstretched fingers, the number five can be compared to an open palm, where thumb protruded. And the number ten resembles two crossed hands. IN European countries When counting, it is customary to straighten your fingers, but in Russia, on the contrary, bend them.

We all use Roman numerals - we use them to mark the numbers of centuries or months of the year. Roman numerals are found on clock dials, including the chimes of the Spasskaya Tower. We use them, but we don't know much about them.

How do Roman numerals work?

The Roman counting system in its modern version consists of the following basic signs:

I 1
V 5
X 10
L 50
C 100
D 500
M 1000

To remember numbers that are unusual for us who use the Arabic system, there are several special mnemonic phrases in Russian and English:
We Give Juicy Lemons, That's Enough
We Give Advice Only to Well-Educated Individuals
I Value Xylophones Like Cows Dig Milk

The system for arranging these numbers relative to each other is as follows: numbers up to three inclusive are formed by adding units (II, III) - repeating any number four times is prohibited. To form numbers greater than three, the larger and smaller digits are added or subtracted, for subtraction the smaller digit is placed before the larger one, for addition - after, (4 = IV), the same logic applies to other digits (90 = XC). The order of thousands, hundreds, tens and units is the same as what we are used to.

It is important that any number should not be repeated more than three times, so the longest number up to a thousand is 888 = DCCCLXXXVIII (500+100+100+100+50+10+10+10+5+1+1+1).

Alternative options

The ban on the fourth use of the same number in a row began to appear only in the 19th century. Therefore, in ancient texts one can see variants IIII and VIII instead of IV and IX, and even IIII or XXXXXX instead of V and LX. Remnants of this writing can be seen on the clock, where four is often marked with four units. In old books, there are also frequent cases of double subtractions - XIIX or IIXX instead of the standard XVIII.

Also in the Middle Ages, a new Roman numeral appeared - zero, which was denoted by the letter N (from the Latin nulla, zero). Large numbers were noted special signs: 1000 - ↀ (or C|Ɔ), 5000 – ↁ (or |Ɔ), 10000 – ↂ (or CC|ƆƆ). Millions are obtained by double underlining standard numbers. Fractions were also written in Roman numerals: ounces were marked using symbols - 1/12, half was marked with the symbol S, and everything greater than 6/12 was marked with an addition: S = 10\12. Another option is S::.

Origin

On this moment does not exist unified theory origin of Roman numerals. One of the most popular hypotheses is that Etruscan-Roman numerals originated from a counting system that uses notched strokes instead of numbers.

Thus, the number "I" is not Latin or more ancient letter“and”, and a notch resembling the shape of this letter. Every fifth notch was marked with a bevel - V, and the tenth was crossed out - X. The number 10 in this count looked like this: IIIIΛIIIIX.

It is thanks to this recording of numbers in a row that we owe a special system of adding Roman numerals: over time, the recording of the number 8 (IIIIΛIII) could be reduced to ΛIII, which convincingly demonstrates how the Roman counting system acquired its specificity. Gradually, the notches turned into graphic symbols I, V and X, and acquired independence. Later they began to be identified with Roman letters - since they were similar in appearance to them.

An alternative theory belongs to Alfred Cooper, who suggested looking at the Roman counting system from a physiological point of view. Cooper believes that I, II, III, IIII is a graphical representation of the number of fingers right hand, thrown out by the merchant when naming the price. V is the extended thumb, which together with the palm forms a figure similar to the letter V.

That is why Roman numerals add up not only ones, but also add them with fives - VI, VII, etc. - this is the thumb thrown back and the other fingers of the hand extended. The number 10 was expressed by crossing the hands or fingers, hence the symbol X. Another option was to simply double the number V, getting an X. Large numbers were transmitted using the left palm, which counted tens. So gradually the signs of ancient finger counting became pictograms, which then began to be identified with the letters of the Latin alphabet.

Modern Application

Today in Russia, Roman numerals are needed, first of all, to record the number of the century or millennium. It is convenient to place Roman numerals next to Arabic ones - if you write the century in Roman numerals, and then the year in Arabic, then your eyes will not be dazzled by the abundance of identical signs. Roman numerals have a certain connotation of archaism. They are also traditionally used to designate serial number monarch (Peter I), volume number of a multi-volume publication, sometimes a chapter of a book. Roman numerals are also used in antique watch dials. Important numbers, such as the year of the Olympiad or the number of a scientific law, can also be recorded using Roman numerals: World War II, Euclid's V postulate.

IN different countries Roman numerals are used slightly differently: in the USSR it was customary to indicate the month of the year using them (1.XI.65). In the West, the year number is often written in Roman numerals in the credits of films or on the facades of buildings.

In parts of Europe, especially in Lithuania, you can often find the days of the week designated in Roman numerals (I – Monday, and so on). In Holland, Roman numerals are sometimes used to denote floors. And in Italy they mark 100-meter sections of the route, marking, at the same time, every kilometer with Arabic numerals.

In Russia, when writing by hand, it is customary to emphasize the Roman numerals below and above at the same time. However, often in other countries, the underscore meant increasing the case of the number by 1000 times (or 10,000 times with a double underscore).

There is a common misconception that modern Western clothing sizes have some connection with Roman numerals. In fact, the designations are XXL, S, M, L, etc. have no connection with them: these are abbreviations English words eXtra (very), Small (small), Large (large).

The Roman numbering system using letters was widespread in Ancient Rome and Europe for two thousand years. Only in the late Middle Ages was it replaced by a more convenient decimal system of numbers, borrowed from the Arabs (1,2,3,4,5...).

But, until now, Roman numerals indicate dates on monuments, time on clocks and (in the Anglo-American typographic tradition) pages of book prefaces, clothing sizes, chapters of monographs and textbooks. In addition, in Russian it is customary to use Roman numerals to denote ordinal numbers. The Roman numeral system is currently used to designate centuries (XV century, etc.), AD. e. (MCMLXXVII, etc.) and months when indicating dates (for example, 1. V. 1975), in historical monuments of law as article numbers (Karolina, etc.)

To designate numbers, 7 letters of the Latin alphabet were used (the first letter of the words is five, ten, fifty, one hundred, five hundred, thousand):

I=1, V=5, X=10, L=50, C=100, D=500, M=1000

C (100) is the first letter of the Latin word centum (one hundred)

and M - (1000) - the first letter of the word mille (thousand).

As for the sign D (500), it was half of the sign Ф (1000)

The V sign (5) is the upper half of the X sign (10)

Intermediate numbers were formed by adding several letters to the right or left. Thousands and hundreds are written first, then tens and ones. So the number 24 is written as XXIV

Natural numbers are written by repeating these numbers.

Moreover, if a larger number is in front of a smaller one, then they are added (the principle of addition), but if a smaller number is in front of a larger one, then the smaller one is subtracted from the larger one (the principle of subtraction).

In other words, if a sign denoting a smaller number is to the right of a sign denoting a larger number, then the smaller is added to the larger; if on the left, then subtract: VI - 6, i.e. 5+1 IV - 4, i.e. 5-1 LX - 60, i.e. 50+10 XL - 40, i.e. 50-10 CX - 110, i.e. 100+10 XC - 90, i.e. 100-10 MDCCCXII - 1812, i.e. 1000+500+100+100+100+10+1+1

The last rule applies only to avoid repeating the same number four times. To avoid repetition 4 times, the number 3999 is written as MMMIM.

Different designations for the same number are possible. Thus, the number 80 can be represented as LXXX (50+10+10+10) and as XXC(100-20).

For example, I, X, C are placed respectively before X, C, M to indicate 9, 90, 900 or before V, L, D to indicate 4, 40, 400.

For example, VI = 5+1 = 6, IV = 5 - 1 = 4 (instead of IIII).

XIX = 10 + 10 - 1 = 19 (instead of XVIIII),

XL = 50 - 10 =40 (instead of XXXX),

XXXIII = 10 + 10 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 33, etc.

Roman numerals

MCMLXXXIV

Note:

Basic Roman numerals: I (1) - unus (unus) II (2) - duo (duo) III (3) - tres (tres) IV (4) - quattuor (quattuor) V (5) - quinque (quinque) VI (6) - sex (sex) VII (7) - septem (septem) VIII (8) - octo (octo) IX (9) - novem (novem) X (10) - decem (decem), etc. XX (20) - viginti (viginti) XXI (21) - unus et viginti or viginti unus XXII (22) - duo et viginti or viginti duo, etc. XXVIII (28) - duodetriginta XXIX (29) - undetriginta XXX (30) - triginta XL (40) - quadraginta L (50) - quinquaginta LX (60) - sexaginta LXX (70) - septuaginta LXXX (80) - octoginta XC (90) - nonaginta C (100) - centum CC (200) - ducenti CCC (300) - trecenti (trecenti) CD (400) - quadrigenti (quadrigenti) D (500) - quingenti (quingenti) DC (600) - sexcenti (sexcenti) DCC (700) - septigenti (septigenti) DCCC(800) - octingenti (octigenti) CM (DCCCC) (900) - nongenti (nongenti) M (1000) - mille (mille) MM (2000) - duo milia (duo milia) V (5000) - quinque milia (quinque milia) X (10000) - decem milia (decem milia) XX (20000) - viginti milia (viginti milia) C (1000000) - centum milia (centum milia) XI (1000000) - decies centena milia (decies centena milia)"