Can someone explain Roman numerals real quick?

I want to know how they work. I know each symbol/line stand for a specific number (like I is one and I think V is five or three?), but other than that nothing.

So explain please?

V is five, l ( or whatever) Is one. That's all I know.. xD

Ehh, I think

I=1
II=2
III=3
IV=4
V=5
VI=6
VII=7
VIII=8
And something with X?

I=1
II=2
III=3
IV=4
V=5
VI=6
VII=7
VIII=8
X = 50

I'm pretty sure you can put only 3 numerals. But for 8 you can put 4.

II would be 2. But for 4, you can't have 4 I's. So you do 1 before 5. IV

etc.

okay, i've sort of figured it out through reading them.

I=1
V=5
X=10
L=50
C=100
D=500
M=1000

it's mostly based around fives and the six letters above it. consider those letters 'checkpoints'. one through three are all like tally marks, but then four is written as IV, because is it one under five. after that you keep adding on to five (VI, VII, VIII) until you get to nine. here comes another 'checkpoint', 10 or X. since nine is one under ten, you would write is as IX, not VIIII. whenever a number is one letter's value under the next letter value, you write the difference between the letter and the next letter value. so because nine is one less than ten, you put a I in front of nine. do you understand now?

let's take another example. say you have the number 900 in english numbers. the roman numeral would be CM, because nine is one hundred (C) less than one thousand (M). but here's the important part: if you have the number 850, you would not write XCM. it can only be one letter's value under the next letter. 850 is two letters under 1000, so instead you have to count up from 500. that would give you three hundred and fifty, or DCCCL.

i hope i didn't make it too confusing!

this actually includes math
for example IV is four
I is one and V is five
whenever a smaller number is in front of a larger number, you have to subtract
5 - 1 = 4
VI is six
5 + 1 = 6 and since V = five and I = one and five is larger, you add
so basically when a larger number comes before a smaller, you add & when a small number comes before a large you subtract
wow I hope that made sense I can barely read Roman numerals ha but we learned this in school and these are like just the basics I can't do like hundreds or anything so I can't help with that sigh
I guess you have to know what like I, V, X and all that are in order to do it
at least this is how I learned there could be other ways idk

oh ok I get it but I'm still a bit confused.

Blasted Romans have to make everything so complicated.

Just like hop said,

I= 1
V=5
X=10
L=50
C=100
D=500
M=1,000

Okay so say you wanted 45 you wouldn't do

XXXXV <- bad!! You would do this VL to make it easier on yourself. Whenever a smaller number is in front of a bigger number you subtract. So say you want to find 1,388 you would do this!
MCCCLXXXVIII
Sorry if that is confusing but this is how it would look
1,000+100+100+100+50+10+10+10+5+1+1+1= 1,388
Okay so whenever you see roman numbers i think this
Basically you break it down!
So when you subtract it would look like this sometimes, so say you want 889
DCCCLXXXIX
So it would actually look like this
500+100+100+100+50+10+10+10-1
I hope I helped!

Roman numerals up to 35!: