Printable Roman Numerals Chart for Learning & Teaching

Quick Roman Numerals Chart: Conversion Tips and ShortcutsRoman numerals are an ancient numeric system still used today for clocks, book chapters, movie sequels, outlines, and commemorative dates. This quick guide gives you a compact Roman numerals chart, explains rules, shows fast conversion tips and shortcuts, and includes examples and practice problems so you can read and write Roman numerals confidently.

Roman Numerals Chart (Basic Symbols)

Extended Chart (Common Compound Values)

Core Rules (Quick)

• Additive rule: Place symbols from largest to smallest left-to-right and add their values (e.g., VIII = 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8).
• Subtractive rule: Place a smaller value before a larger to subtract (e.g., IV = 5 − 1 = 4; IX = 10 − 1 = 9).
• Repetition limits: I, X, C, and M can repeat up to three times in a row (III, XXX, CCC, MMM). V, L, and D are never repeated.
• Valid subtractive pairs: Only I before V or X; X before L or C; C before D or M. (e.g., IL is invalid; XL is valid.)
• No zeros: Roman numerals have no symbol for zero.

Fast Conversion Tips (Decimal → Roman)

1. Break the number into thousands, hundreds, tens, and units. Convert each place separately using the chart and rules, then concatenate.

   • Example: 1987 → 1000 (M) + 900 (CM) + 80 (LXXX) + 7 (VII) → MCMLXXXVII.

2. Use subtractive forms for 4s and 9s in each place value (4, 9, 40, 90, 400, 900).

   • Example: 94 → 90 (XC) + 4 (IV) → XCIV.

3. Memorize anchors: 1–10, 40 (XL), 50 (L), 90 (XC), 100 ©, 400 (CD), 500 (D), 900 (CM), 1000 (M). These let you build any number quickly.

4. For quick mental conversion, think in pairs: thousands (M…), then hundreds (CM/CD/C…), then tens (XC/XL/X…), then units (IX/IV/I…).

Fast Parsing Tips (Roman → Decimal)

1. Read left to right and add values, but if a smaller value precedes a larger, subtract it instead.

   • Example: MCDXLIV = M (1000) + CD (400) + XL (40) + IV (4) = 1444.

2. Spot subtractive pairs quickly (IV, IX, XL, XC, CD, CM) and handle them as single tokens.

3. If uncertain, split into familiar chunks: thousands, hundreds, tens, units.

Shortcuts and Tricks

• To check obvious errors: no more than three identical symbols in a row; V, L, D should not repeat; invalid subtractive forms (like IL, IC, XM) are wrong.
• For years (common use), convert the last two digits separately for speed: 1999 → 1000 (M) + 900 (CM) + 90 (XC) + 9 (IX) → MCMXCIX.
• Use a simple table for quick reference when teaching children: 1–10, multiples of 10 up to 90, 100, 500, 1000.
• When creating a printable chart, include examples for each rule (additive, subtractive, repetition limits).

Common Examples

• 4 = IV
• 9 = IX
• 40 = XL
• 90 = XC
• 400 = CD
• 900 = CM
• 2025 = MMXXV
• 1666 = MDCLXVI (all base symbols used once)

Practice Problems (with answers)

1. Convert 58 → LVIII
2. Convert 242 → CCXLII
3. Convert 944 → CMXLIV
4. Convert 307 → CCCVII
5. Convert 49 → XLIX

Answers: 1) LVIII, 2) CCXLII, 3) CMXLIV, 4) CCCVII, 5) XLIX

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet (compact)

• 1–10: I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
• Tens: X XX XXX XL L LX LXX LXXX XC
• Hundreds: C CC CCC CD D DC DCC DCCC CM
• Thousands: M MM MMM …

This chart and these tips should let you convert and read Roman numerals quickly and accurately.