1996 in Roman numerals

How MCMXCVI is built

Roman numerals are written one decimal place at a time, largest first.

1. Mthousands · 1M is 1,000.
2. CMhundreds · 9C before M means 1,000 − 100 = 900. This saves writing DCCCC.
3. XCtens · 9X before C means 100 − 10 = 90. This saves writing LXXXX.
4. VIones · 6V (5) plus I (1) makes 6.

1,000 + 900 + 90 + 6 = 1,996

The pairs CM and XC use subtraction: a smaller letter before a larger one is taken away from it. Only six pairs work this way: IV, IX, XL, XC, CD and CM. More on subtraction

Mistakes to avoid

• Not MVMI. It looks like a shortcut, but V is never written before a larger letter to subtract. The correct form is MCMXCVI.
• Not MDCCCCLXXXXVI (13 letters). That adds everything up without subtraction. The Romans sometimes wrote numbers this way, and clocks still show 4 as IIII, but today MCMXCVI (7 letters) is the standard.