1. First Rule: Numerals of the same value are added.

When the same symbol is repeated, the value of the symbol is added to get the value
of the numeral. I, X and C can be repeated only up to three times. Symbols V, L and D
are never repeated.

For example:

I I I stands for 1 + 1 + 1 = 3

XX = 10 + 10 = 20

X X X stands for 10 + 10 + 10 = 30

CC = 100 + 100 = 200

C C C stands for 100 + 100 + 100 = 300

M M M stands for 1000 + 1000 + 1000 = 3000

Note:

(i) Symbols V, L and D are not repeated.

(ii) A symbol cannot be repeated more than three times.

2. Second Rule: A symbol of smaller value put on the right of greater value symbol is
added to it.

The values of the symbols are added or subtracted to find the values of the Roman
numerals. When the smaller numeral is written to the right of a greater numeral, the
value of the smaller numeral is added to the greater numeral.

For example:

VI stands for 5 + 1 = 6

CV = 100 + 5 = 105

CX = 100 + 10 = 110

CXX stands for 100 + 10 + 10 = 120

DC = 500 + 100 = 600

MC = 1000 + 100 = 1100

MCL stands for 1000 + 100 + 50 = 1150

3. Third Rule. A symbol of smaller value put on the left of greater value symbol is
subtracted from it.

When the smaller numeral is written to the left of a greater numeral, the value of the
smaller numeral is subtracted from the greater numeral. The V, L and D are not
subtracted. Only one number can be subtracted from another.

For example:

IV stands for 5 - 1 = 4

IX stands for 10 - 1 = 9

XL stands for 50 - 10 = 40

XC stands for 100 - 10 = 90

DC stands for 500 - 100 = 400

Note:

(i) Symbol V, L and D are never subtracted.

(ii) Symbol I can be subtracted from V and X only.

(iii) Symbol X can be subtracted from L and C only as L and C are greater than X.

(iv) Symbol C can be subtracted from D and M.

4. Fourth Rule. A symbol of smaller value, put between two symbols of greater value
is subtracted from the symbol on its right.

When the symbols are combined to make a numeral, the value of the symbol between
the two symbols is subtracted from the value of the symbol on its right.

For example:

XIV stands for 10 + 5 - 1 = 14

LIX stands for 50 + 10 - 1 = 59

XCIX stands for 90 + 10 - 1 = 99

XLIX stands for 40 + 10 - 1 = 49