How to count by roman numerals?

Answer 1

Lets start with the symbols.

1: i

5: v

10: x

50: L

100: c

500: d

1000: m

The Romans count forward. So, four is the number before five, so it would be written as IV, one before five. But other than that, the numbers always go highest first, lowest last, just like the Greeks work.

You can only do the before thing two intervals apart. In other words, you cannot say 999 is IM. You'd have to say CMXCIX, meaning [CM] - 100 before 1000, which would be 900, + [XC] - 10 before 100, which would be 90, + [IX]- 1 before ten, which is nine. So 900+90+9 would be 999, which is how the Romans would count it.

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X. That's Roman numerals for one through ten. From there it goes XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV...