Understanding Roman Numeral Translation
Roman numerals are a numeric system that originated in ancient Rome, used for performing arithmetic operations and representing numbers. In this system, numbers are represented by combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet. For modern usage, the letters I, V, X, L, C, D, and M are commonly employed.
Basic Roman Numerals
Each of these letters corresponds to a specific value:
- I: 1
- V: 5
- X: 10
- L: 50
- C: 100
- D: 500
- M: 1000
Forming Numbers
Roman numerals are generally written from largest to smallest, and the values are added together. However, if a smaller numeral appears before a larger one, it is subtracted.
Examples:
- II: 1+1=2
- IV: 5−1=4
- VI: 5+1=6
- IX: 10−1=9
- XL: 50−10=40
- XC: 100−10=90
- CM: 1000−100=900
Complex Numbers
Larger numbers are formed by combining these principles. For example:
100+50+5+1+1=157
1000+(1000−100)+(100−10)+(5−1)=1994
Special Cases
- Repeat a numeral up to three times to add the values. For example:
- XXX: 10+10+10=30
- Do not repeat V, L, or D, as these values are never repeated in succession.
Understanding these basic rules allows you to perform roman numeral translation efficiently, converting between Roman numerals and Arabic numbers seamlessly.