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Roman numerals
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When are Roman numerals used?
Online Roman-Arabic numeral converter tool with a text field showing the Roman numeral X and a converted number field displaying 10.
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Clock with Roman numerals
Clock with Roman numerals A 12-hour clock with Roman numerals.

Roman numerals

mathematics
Written by
Erik Gregersen
Erik Gregersen is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, specializing in the physical sciences and technology. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on the...
Erik Gregersen
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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•History

Roman numerals, a system of numerical notation based on the ancient Roman system. The symbols are I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, standing respectively for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 in the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. A symbol placed after another of equal or greater value adds its value—e.g., II = 1 + 1 = 2 and LXI = 60 + 10 + 1 = 71. Usually only three identical symbols...

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