How Does Roman Numerals For Kids | Elementary Math Lesson Work?

Roman numerals are like letters that help us count and write numbers using symbols from ancient Rome.

Imagine you have a set of blocks: I is 1 block, V is 5 blocks, X is 10 blocks. Just like how we use digits (like 1, 2, 3) to build bigger numbers, we can combine these symbols to make bigger numbers too!

• I = 1
• V = 5
• X = 10

You can add them together like this:

• VI means 5 + 1 = 6 (like having 5 blocks and adding one more)
• XI means 10 + 1 = 11 (like stacking a big tower of 10 blocks and putting one on top)

Sometimes, you can subtract too:

• IV is like taking away 1 from 5 to make 4 (just like when you have 5 candies and give 1 away)
• IX is taking away 1 from 10 to make 9

It’s just like putting together or taking apart groups of blocks, simple, fun, and easy to learn!