What Are Roman Numerals?
Roman numerals are special letters that ancient Romans used for
counting!
Just like we use numbers (1, 2, 3), Romans used letters to write numbers. Today we'll learn four
important ones:
I = 1
V = 5
X = 10
L = 50
How Roman Numerals Work
1️⃣ When a smaller numeral is after a bigger one, you add them (VI = 5 + 1 = 6)
2️⃣ When a smaller numeral is before a bigger one, you subtract it (IV = 5 - 1 = 4)
3️⃣ You can use I, V, X up to three times in a row (III = 3, but IIII isn't used for 4)
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: What number is XX?
Try to figure it out before clicking!
Example 2: Write the number 14 in Roman numerals
Remember: 10 is X, and 4 is IV (5-1)
Parent Tips 🌟
- Clock hunt: Look for Roman numerals on clock faces together - many clocks use IIII instead of IV for 4!
- Movie magic: Watch for Roman numerals in movie credits showing the year - point them out when you see them!
- Roman math: Write simple addition problems using Roman numerals (I + II = III) for fun practice.