To solve Roman numerals, you first need to understand the basic symbols and their values:
- I = 1
- V = 5
- X = 10
- L = 50
- C = 100
- D = 500
- M = 1000
Once you know the values, the next step is to read the Roman numeral from left to right. If a smaller value appears before a larger value, you subtract the smaller from the larger. For example, IV is 4 (5 – 1). If a larger or equal value precedes a smaller value, you simply add them together. For instance, VI is 6 (5 + 1).
Let’s consider a few examples:
- IX: Here, I is before X, so you subtract: 10 – 1 = 9.
- XII: X is before I, so you add: 10 + 1 + 1 = 12.
- XL: Here, X is before L, so you subtract: 50 – 10 = 40.
To convert Roman numerals back to numbers, apply these rules consistently, and you’ll be able to read and write Roman numerals effectively.