Roman numerals: introduction

From Smile and Learn

Roman numerals: introduction
6 min4th5thMath
access

Summary

Introduces the Roman numeral symbols I, V, X and how they combine to make numbers. A fun look at how an ancient culture wrote numbers.

Viewer safety

All ages

Gentle animated educational content, safe to show cold; still worth a quick preview to match it to your lesson.

Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.

Teaching resources

Discussion questions

Talk about it

Romans used letters for numbers: I is 1, V is 5, X is 10. You add and subtract them depending on their order.

  1. What number does the symbol X stand for?
  2. How do you write the number 4 in Roman numerals, and why is it IV not IIII?
  3. Where do you still see Roman numerals today?

Quick work-a-long

Vocabulary: Roman numeral, symbol, I, V, X.

Try it: Write your age and today's date using Roman numerals. Find Roman numerals somewhere in your school.