🏛️ Roman Numerals 📚 Grade 3-4 ⏱ 6 min
Roman Numerals for Kids: Simple Explanation
Roman numerals use letters instead of familiar digits. Here are the basic symbols and the rules for adding and subtracting them.
Basic symbols
Core values:
I = 1 · V = 5 · X = 10 · L = 50 · C = 100
I = 1 · V = 5 · X = 10 · L = 50 · C = 100
The addition rule
When a smaller symbol follows a bigger one, add: VI = 5+1 = 6, XII = 10+1+1 = 12.
The subtraction rule
When a smaller symbol comes before a bigger one, subtract: IV = 5-1 = 4, IX = 10-1 = 9.
Where Roman numerals show up
- Century numbers (the 21st century)
- Some clock faces
- Chapter numbering in books
FAQ
Why learn Roman numerals if Arabic numbers exist?
They still appear in daily life — clocks, dates, numbering — and train the logic of reading symbols.