1. enter the values corresponding to each symbol
C D X L
100 500 10 50
2. Place math for each value going from left to right. (if the value to the right is greater than the value on the left, subtract from the larger number/ add when a smaller value is placed after the a larger one)
C - D + X - L
100 - 500 + 10 + 50
500 - 100 = 400
50 - 10 = 40
400 + 40 + 440