Cheat Sheet:
roman numerals
HISTORY:
• Originated in Ancient Rome.
• The symbol represents a tally mark, which would be written into wood or
dirt.
• It was an easy way to keep track of events/items they were counting.
• They are written as a combination of seven letters: I, V, X, L, C, D and M.
• Can be written in upper and lower case.
THE NUMERALS:
I=1
V=5
X = 10
L = 50
C = 100
D = 500
M = 1000
The symbols are used together to make different
numbers. The rule is “three up, one down.”
I II III
IV
V
VI VII VIII
IX
X
For example, to get the number three, we use three of
the lower numbers, and read them “up”.
III
→
When it comes to the number four, we go “one down”,
by using the symbol for five and putting a one to the
left of it to signify its value is one lower than the five.
IV
→
This is the same for larger numbers, too.
C = 100
CD = 400
D = 500
M = 1000
M
MC MCC MCCC
1000 1100
→
1200
→
MCD MD
1400
→
1500
1300
→
ACTIVITY SHEET
Write the following numbers in Roman Numerals:
a) 1
.....................
b) 20
.....................
c) 45
.....................
d) 78
.....................
e) 100
.....................
f) 124
.....................
g) 300
.....................
h) 1000
.....................
i) 2503
.....................
j) 1500
.....................
k) 3021
.....................
l) 10,000
.....................
ACTIVITY SHEET ANSWERS
Write the following numbers in Roman Numerals:
a) 1 = I
b) 20 = XX
c) 45 = XLV
d) 78 = LXXVIII
e) 100 = C
f) 124 = CXXIV
g) 300 = CCC
h) 1000 = M
i) 2503 = MMDIII
j) 1500 = MD
k) 3021 = MMMXXI
l) 10,000 = MMMMMMMMMM
ROMAN
NUMERAL
BINGO! [1-100]
IV XV C LXX XXIII
IX
LX l xli
LIV XV XC XCIX
XCV XL I XIX LXV
XXXIX
LXXXIX
LI
LXVI
III XII XCVI
ROMAN
NUMERAL
BINGO! [1-100]
VI LXIX LII XII XXIV
LV XXX xli
XIX
LIV XV XCII XCIX II
LXVI XL XLI IX LXV
XLVI
LX LXVI VIII C
XCV
ROMAN
NUMERAL
BINGO!
[make your own]