Roman Numerals Chart Page 2

Principles of Roman numerals

1. Write numerals left to right, with the largest numeral first.

2. The largest numeral possible is used at each stage.

3. No more than three instances of same adjacent numeral. Occasionally number 4 is

written not as IV but as IIII to add symmetry and balance to a watch or clock face.

4. A smaller numeral such as I or X placed before a larger one has the effect of minus

- thus IV is one less then five, or four. This is called the subtraction principle and

only one numeral can be placed to the left. The small numeral must be a power of

ten: I, X or C; (1, 10 or 100).

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