Roman Numeral Arithmetic
Ancient Roman computation often relied on counting boards or abaci; writing long calculations purely in Roman letters was not the main everyday method. Today, “Roman numeral arithmetic” is usually a teaching exercise: convert to Arabic, compute, convert back to a canonical Roman result.
Open converter Checker Teachers
Historical caution
Do not assume Romans solved XII × III on paper the way a modern worksheet does. Physical counting aids mattered. Modern tools on this site make the teaching workflow explicit.
Worked examples
- Addition: X + V → 10 + 5 = 15 → XV
- Subtraction: XX − IV → 20 − 4 = 16 → XVI
- Multiplication: XII × III → 12 × 3 = 36 → XXXVI
- Division: C ÷ IV → 100 ÷ 4 = 25 → XXV (exact integers only)
Try them in the Roman numeral calculator.
Limits
Results must stay in 1–3999 for a standard Roman answer. Zero and negatives are explained, not written as Roman numerals. See Roman numerals and zero.
FAQ
Where can I practice?
Use the calculator and the arithmetic worksheet types under Worksheets / Teachers.