Roman Numerals 1 to 1000: Rules, Chart & Examples

Roman numerals 1 to 1000 use just seven letters: I, V, X, L, C, D and M. Once your child knows these seven symbols and four simple rules, they can read or write any number up to 1000 and beyond.

Roman numerals are taught in Classes 3 to 6, and still appear on clock faces, book chapters, movie sequels and building foundation stones.

The Seven Basic Symbols

Symbol	Value
I	1
V	5
X	10
L	50
C	100
D	500
M	1000

The Four Rules

Rule 1 — Repetition adds: I, X, C and M can repeat up to three times (III = 3, CCC = 300). V, L and D are never repeated.

Rule 2 — Smaller after bigger adds: VI = 5+1 = 6; LX = 50+10 = 60.

Rule 3 — Smaller before bigger subtracts: IV = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400, CM = 900.

Rule 4 — Only six subtraction pairs are allowed: I before V/X only; X before L/C only; C before D/M only. So 99 is XCIX (not IC), and 49 is XLIX (not IL).

How to Convert Any Number

Break the number into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, convert each part, then join them. Example — 1994: 1000=M, 900=CM, 90=XC, 4=IV → MCMXCIV

Worked Examples

Roman numeral	Breakdown	Value
XXXI	10+10+10+1	31
XLIX	(50−10)+(10−1)	49
LXXVIII	50+10+10+5+1+1+1	78
XCIV	(100−10)+(5−1)	94
CDXLIV	(500−100)+(50−10)+(5−1)	444
DCCCLXXXVIII	500+300+50+30+5+3	888
CMXCIX	(1000−100)+(100−10)+(10−1)	999
MMXXVI	1000+1000+10+10+5+1	2026

Roman Numerals Chart: 1 to 100

No.	Roman	No.	Roman	No.	Roman
1	I	11	XI	21	XXI
2	II	12	XII	30	XXX
4	IV	15	XV	40	XL
5	V	19	XIX	50	L
9	IX	20	XX	90	XC
10	X	49	XLIX	99	XCIX

(Showing key reference points — every number in between follows the same repetition/subtraction rules above.)

Hundreds up to 1000

Number	Roman	Number	Roman
100	C	600	DC
200	CC	700	DCC
300	CCC	800	DCCC
400	CD	900	CM
500	D	1000	M

Example: 572 = 500 + 70 + 2 = D + LXX + II = DLXXII

Common Mistakes

• Writing IIII for 4 — use IV.
• Writing VX for 5 — simply use V.
• Writing IC for 99 or IM for 999 — only the six allowed pairs can subtract.
• Repeating a symbol four times, as in XXXX — use XL for 40.

Practice Questions

Convert: (a) 64   (b) 129   (c) 476   (d) XCVII   (e) CCCXLV

Answers: (a) LXIV   (b) CXXIX   (c) CDLXXVI   (d) 97   (e) 345

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 4 written as IV and not IIII?
A symbol shouldn't repeat more than three times. A smaller symbol before a bigger one means subtraction, so IV = 5 − 1 = 4.

Is there a zero in Roman numerals?
No, the Roman number system has no symbol for zero.

How do you write 2026 in Roman numerals?
MMXXVI — two thousands (MM), two tens (XX), then 6 (VI).