What Are Roman Numerals?
Roman numerals are a unique way of showcasing numbers in Latin or the Roman alphabet. This system is over 2000 years old and began during the period of early Rome. Nowadays, the use of Roman numerals is limited to clocks or ancient objects.
Here are some examples of numbers in their corresponding Roman numeral format:
- 2 is represented as II
- 3 is represented as III
- 6 is represented as VI
- 7 is represented as VII
- 9 is represented as IX
How to Write 140 in Roman Numerals?
In order to write 140 in Roman numerals format, we will break the number into its simplest form, and then use the Roman numeral chart.
140 can be written as 100 + 40
We can write 140 as 100 + (50 – 10) as well.
Now, these numbers are written in the form of their corresponding Roman numerals.
\(140 \Rightarrow C + \left( L – X \right) = CXL\)
Hence, the corresponding Roman numeral for 140 is ⅭⅩⅬ.
How Do We Represent Numbers in Roman Numerals?
The Roman numeral system consists of seven letters to represent numbers. The different combinations of these seven letters create various Roman numerals. The Roman numeral chart can be used to write the Roman numerals for numerical values.
The numerals are represented either in ‘uppercase’ or ‘lowercase’ forms.
When a numeral is followed by an equal or a lesser value, the values are added together. For example, ⅩⅩⅩⅠⅩ in Roman numerals represents 39 in natural numbers. Here, the Roman numerals are added up as the numerals are of the same value or of lesser value.
When a numeral is followed by a greater numerical value we subtract the corresponding values. For example, ⅠⅩ represents 9. Here, Ⅰ representing 1 is followed by a greater numeral Ⅹ representing 10, so the values are subtracted, that is, 10 – 1 = 9 to get the Roman numeral.
Solved Examples
Example 1: Find the corresponding Roman numeral of 1140.
Solution:
In order to find the corresponding Roman numeral of 1140, we will first break the number into its simplest form.
Hence, 1140 = 1000 + 100 + 40
Now, we will write the equivalent Roman values of these individual numbers.
1000 is represented as Ⅿ in Roman numerals.
100 is represented as Ⅽ in Roman numerals.
40 is represented as ⅩⅬ.
So, \(1140 \Rightarrow M + C + XL = MCXL\)
Example 2: Find the value of ⅭⅩⅬ + ⅩⅩⅤⅠ.
Solution:
Let us find the numeric values of these Roman numerals and then add them to find the total value.
The numeric value of ⅭⅩⅬ is 140 (Ⅽ being 100 and ⅩⅬ being 40)
The numeric value of ⅩⅩⅤⅠ is 26 (Ⅹ being 10 and ⅤⅠ being 6)
Hence, \(CXL + XXVI \Rightarrow 140 + 26 = 166.\)
Example 3: Find out the numeric value of the Roman numeral ⅩⅠⅩ.
Solution:
Here, we can see that the bigger value Ⅹ is placed first followed by the lower value ⅠⅩ. So, we will be adding the values.
Hence, ⅩⅠⅩ is 10 + 9 = 19.
So, the numeric value of ⅩⅠⅩ is 19.
Roman numerals are rarely used nowadays other than in a few special cases. They are used on archaic clocks and to number the topics or chapters in the index pages or the initial pages of books. Roman numerals are important for kings, queens, and popes who use it in their names.
X, CXL, XXV, and XXXIX are a few examples of Roman numerals.
Roman numerals are expressed by letters of the Roman or Latin alphabets, in either uppercase or lowercase forms.