Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Reading and Writing Roman Numbers

There are various types of numbers, whole numbers ( whole Numbers are simply the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, … (and so on)) , counting numbers (Counting Numbers are Whole Numbers, but without the zero.), integers (Integers are like whole numbers, but they also include negative numbers), or fractions. One more type of numbers we will study the Roman numbers. In general, the Roman numbers consist of 7 digits (denoted by the letter) as follows.

  • I represents the number 1
  • V represents the number 5
  • X represents the number 10
  • L represents the number 50
  • C represents the number 100
  • D represents the number 500
  • M represents the number 1000

For other numbers, denoted by a combination (mixture) of the seventh symbol number.

1. The sum rule of Roman Numbers
To read the Roman numbers, can we describe in the form of summation as in the example below.


Example:
a. II  = I + I
        = 1 + 1
        = 2
    So, II be read 2
b. VIII = V + I + I + I
            = 5 + 1 + 1 + 1
            = 8
     So, VIII be read 8
c. LXXVI = L + X + X + V + I
                 = 50 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1
                 = 76
     So, LXXVI be read 76
d. CXXXVII = C + X + X + X + V + I + I
                     = 100 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 + 1
                      = 137
     So, read 137 CXXXVII
Try to note the number of Roman symbol of the examples above. Getting to the right, the smaller value. There is no symbol that lined the base of more than three. From these examples we can write the first rules in reading Roman numbers following the symbol.

  • If the symbol of the smaller numbers ideally situated right, then the Roman symbols are summed. 
  • The addition at most three points.
2. Reduction in Numbers of Roman rule
What if the symbol of the smaller number is located on the left? To read the Roman numbers, can we describe in the form of a reduction as in the example below.
Example:
a. IV = V - I
         = 5-1
         = 4
    Thus, IV to read 4
b. IX = X - I
          = 10-1
          = 9
    Thus, IX reads 9
c. XL = L - X
          = 50-10
          = 40
    So, read XL 40
From these examples we can write the second rule in reading Roman numbers following the symbol.
  • If the symbol of the smaller number is located on the left, then the Roman symbols are deductible.
  • Reduction of at most one point.
3. Joint Rules
The two rules above (addition and subtraction) can be combined so that it can more clearly in Roman numbers to read symbols. Let us consider the following example.
Example:
a. XIV = X + (V - I)
            = 10 + (5-1)
            = 10 + 4
            = 14
    So, XIV to read 14
b. MCMXCIX = M + (M - C) + (C - X) + (X - I)
                        = 1000 + (1000-100) + (100 -10) + (10-1)
                        = 1,000 + 900 + 90 + 9
                         = 1999
    So, read MCMXCIX 1999


Write Roman Numbers
After reading the Roman numbers, of course you can also write down the number of Roman symbol of the natural numbers are specified. Write the rules of the Roman symbol of the same number you have learned before. Let us consider the following example.

Example:
1.. 24 = 20 + 4
          = (10 + 10) + (5-1)
          = XX + IV
          = XXIV
    Thus, the symbol of the Roman number 24 is the XXIV
2. 48 = 40 + 8
         = (50 - 10) + (5 + 3)
         = XL + VIII
         = XLVIII
    Thus, the symbol of the Roman number 48 is XLVIII
3. 139 = 100 + 30 + 9
           = 100 + (10 + 10 + 10) + (10 - 1)
           = C + + XXX IX
           = CXXXIX
    Thus, the symbol of the Roman number 139 is CXXXIX
3. 1,496 = 1000 + 400 + 90 + 6
              = 1000 + (500-100) + (100-10) + (5 + 1)
              = M + CD + + XC VI
              = MCDXCVI
    Thus, the symbol of the Roman number 1496 is MCDXCVI

Posted by: Denmas Tugino
Godheg Updated at: Wednesday, June 27, 2012