X Tables
Maths History

Roman numerals for children

Read and write I, V, X, L, C and basic Roman numeral patterns.

Quick answer

Roman numerals are an ancient way of writing numbers using letters like I, V, X, L, C, D, and M. You can read and write Roman numerals by combining these letters in specific patterns, and they’re still used today for things like clocks, movie credits, and book chapters.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to read and write simple Roman numerals from 1 to 100. Success signs:
  • You can match Roman numerals to their numbers (like I = 1, V = 5)
  • You can write numbers from 1 to 100 in Roman numerals
  • You can read Roman numerals used in everyday life (like on clocks or in books)
  • You can explain why we still use Roman numerals today

Why this matters

Roman numerals are not just a history lesson – they're still used in real life! You might see them on clocks, in movie titles, or on buildings. Understanding Roman numerals helps you read these numbers and makes you feel like a detective exploring the past. It also builds your number sense and pattern recognition skills, which are useful in many maths areas.

How it works

Roman numerals use letters to show numbers:
  • I = 1
  • V = 5
  • X = 10
  • L = 50
  • C = 100
  • D = 500
  • M = 1000
The key is that when a smaller letter comes before a larger letter, you subtract. When it comes after, you add. For example:
  • IV = 4 (because I = 1, V = 5, and 5 – 1 = 4)
  • VI = 6 (because V = 5, I = 1, and 5 + 1 = 6)

Examples you can see

Let’s look at how Roman numerals work for numbers from 1 to 20:
Number Roman Numeral How it works
1 I One I
2 II Two I's
3 III Three I's
4 IV One before five = 5 – 1 = 4
5 V One V
6 VI Five plus + 1 = 6
7 VII Five plus two = 5 + 2 = 7
8 VIII Five plus three = 5 + 3 = 8
9 IX One before ten = 10 – 1 = 9
10 X One X
11 XI Ten plus + 1 = 11
12 XII Ten plus two = 10 + 2 = 12
13 XIII Ten plus three = 10 + 3 = 13
14 XIV Ten plus (five minus one) = 10 + (5 – 1) = 14
15 XV Ten plus five = 10 + 5 = 15
16 XVI Ten plus six = 10 + 6 = 16
17 XVII Ten plus seven = 10 + 7 = 17
18 XVIII Ten plus eight = 10 + 8 = 18
19 XIX Ten plus (ten minus one) = 10 + (10 – 1) = 19
20 XX Two X's = 10 + 10 = 20
Now let’s try some bigger numbers:
Number Roman Numeral How it works
25 XXV Twenty plus five = 20 + 5 = 25
30 XXX Three X's = 10 + 10 + 10 = 30
40 XL Ten before fifty = 50 – 10 = 40
50 L One L
60 LX Fifty plus ten = 50 + 10 = 60
70 LXX Fifty plus twenty = 50 + 20 = 70
80 LXXX Fifty plus thirty = 50 + 30 = 80
90 XC Ten before a hundred = 100 – 10 = 90
100 C One C

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Roman Museum Mystery You are a detective visiting a Roman museum. You find a treasure chest with a note that says: “The number of golden coins is written in Roman numerals. Find the number of coins by reading the Roman numeral: XXVII.” You need to solve the mystery to find the treasure. What number is XXVII? Step-by-step:
  1. XX = 20 (because X = 10, so 10 + 10 = 20)
  2. V = 5
  3. II = 2
  4. So XXVII = 20 + 5 + 2 = 27
Great detective work! The chest contains 27 golden coins. Now, try this challenge:
  • Find a Roman numeral between 1 and 100 that you think is tricky.
  • Write it down and explain how you read it.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Writing IIII for 4.
    Why it happens: Confusing addition with subtraction rules.
    Fix: Remember that 4 is written as IV, where I (1) comes before V (5) so you subtract: 5 – 1 = 4.
  • Mistake: Writing IL for 49.
    Why it happens: Thinking that the subtraction rule works with any two letters.
    Fix: 49 is written as XLIX. The correct way is to break it down: 40 = XL, 9 = IX, so 49 = XLIX.
  • Mistake: Adding all letters together, like writing XXVII as 20 + 5 + 1 + 1 = 27, but then confusing it with XXVIII.
    Why it happens: Not understanding when to add or subtract.
    Fix: Check if a smaller letter is before a larger one. If so, subtract. If not, add.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Playing a game where you write a number and they write it in Roman numerals
  • Looking for Roman numerals in real life, like on clocks, books, or signs
  • Using flashcards to practice the basic letters (I, V, X, L, C)
  • Encouraging your child to explain how they read a Roman numeral
  • Not worrying if they make a mistake – it’s part of learning!
What to say:
  • “Let’s look at the clock together. What number is written there?”
  • “Can you tell me how you know that XXVII is 27?”
  • “Great job! You’re getting better at spotting when to add or subtract.”
What not to do:
  • Don’t say “You’re not good at this” or “Why can’t you get it?”
  • Don’t rush them or make it feel like a test
  • Don’t correct every small mistake – encourage them to try again

Practice questions

  1. What number is written as IX?
  2. Write the number 13 in Roman numerals.
  3. What number is XL?
  4. Write 25 in Roman numerals.
  5. What number is XC?
Answers:
  1. IX = 9
  2. 13 = XIII
  3. XL = 40
  4. 25 = XXV
  5. XC = 90

FAQ

What are Roman numerals used for today?

Roman numerals are still used today for things like movie credits, clocks, chapter numbers in books, and on monuments. They give a special, classic look.

Why do we still learn Roman numerals?

Learning Roman numerals helps us understand how numbers were written in the past. It also builds your pattern recognition and number sense skills, which are helpful in all areas of maths.

Are Roman numerals harder than our numbers?

Roman numerals are different, not necessarily harder. They use a different way of showing numbers, which makes them interesting to explore. Once you get the hang of it, they're fun to use!

Can you write big numbers with Roman numerals?

Yes! Roman numerals can show very large numbers, but they get more complex. For now, we focus on numbers up to 100.

What is the biggest Roman numeral we use?

The biggest one we usually see is M, which stands for 1000. For numbers over 1000, you can add more M’s or use other symbols, but that's for older learners!