2046 in Roman numerals

How MMXLVI is built

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

1. MMthousands · 2MM is 2 × M (1,000), written out 2 times.
2. XLtens · 4X before L means 50 − 10 = 40. This saves writing XXXX.
3. VIones · 6V (5) plus I (1) makes 6.

2,000 + 40 + 6 = 2,046

The pair XL uses 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 MMVLI. It looks like a shortcut, but V is never written before a larger letter to subtract. The correct form is MMXLVI.
• Not MMXXXXVI (8 letters). That adds everything up without subtraction. The Romans sometimes wrote numbers this way, and clocks still show 4 as IIII, but today MMXLVI (6 letters) is the standard.
• There's no letter for zero. The zero is simply left out, which is why 2046 has 3 parts, not 4.