Roman to Integer Conversion in DSA Java - Build from Scratch

Roman to Integer Conversion

📖 Scenario: You are building a simple tool to convert Roman numerals into their integer values. Roman numerals are used in clocks, book chapters, and movie titles. Understanding how to convert them helps in many real-life situations.

🎯 Goal: Build a Java program that converts a Roman numeral string into its integer value using a dictionary (map) and a loop.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a map with Roman numeral characters and their integer values

Create a variable to hold the total integer value

Use a for loop to process the Roman numeral string from left to right

Apply the Roman numeral rules to add or subtract values correctly

Print the final integer value

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Roman numerals are used in clocks, book chapters, movie titles, and historical dates. Converting them to integers helps in calculations and comparisons.

💼 Career

Understanding how to map characters to values and apply rules in loops is a key skill in programming, useful in parsing, data processing, and algorithm design.

1

Create the Roman numeral map

Create a HashMap<Character, Integer> called romanMap with these exact entries: 'I' -> 1, 'V' -> 5, 'X' -> 10, 'L' -> 50, 'C' -> 100, 'D' -> 500, 'M' -> 1000.

DSA Java

public class RomanToInteger {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Create romanMap with Roman numeral values
        // Your code here
    }
}

Hint

Use HashMap<Character, Integer> and put method to add entries.

2

Set up the input Roman numeral and total variable

Create a String variable called roman and set it to "MCMXCIV". Create an int variable called total and set it to 0.

DSA Java

import java.util.HashMap;

public class RomanToInteger {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        HashMap romanMap = new HashMap();
        romanMap.put('I', 1);
        romanMap.put('V', 5);
        romanMap.put('X', 10);
        romanMap.put('L', 50);
        romanMap.put('C', 100);
        romanMap.put('D', 500);
        romanMap.put('M', 1000);

        // Create roman string and total variable
        // Your code here
    }
}

Hint

Set roman to the exact string "MCMXCIV" and total to 0.

3

Convert Roman numeral to integer

Use a for loop with int i = 0 to i < roman.length() - 1 to iterate over roman. Inside the loop, get the current value with romanMap.get(roman.charAt(i)) and the next value with romanMap.get(roman.charAt(i + 1)). If the current value is less than the next value, subtract the current value from total. Otherwise, add the current value to total. After the loop, add the value of the last character to total.

DSA Java

import java.util.HashMap;

public class RomanToInteger {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        HashMap romanMap = new HashMap();
        romanMap.put('I', 1);
        romanMap.put('V', 5);
        romanMap.put('X', 10);
        romanMap.put('L', 50);
        romanMap.put('C', 100);
        romanMap.put('D', 500);
        romanMap.put('M', 1000);

        String roman = "MCMXCIV";
        int total = 0;

        // Convert roman to integer using loop
        // Your code here
    }
}

Hint

Use a loop from 0 to length - 1. Compare current and next values to decide add or subtract.

4

Print the integer result

Print the value of total using System.out.println(total);.

DSA Java

import java.util.HashMap;

public class RomanToInteger {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        HashMap romanMap = new HashMap();
        romanMap.put('I', 1);
        romanMap.put('V', 5);
        romanMap.put('X', 10);
        romanMap.put('L', 50);
        romanMap.put('C', 100);
        romanMap.put('D', 500);
        romanMap.put('M', 1000);

        String roman = "MCMXCIV";
        int total = 0;

        for (int i = 0; i < roman.length() - 1; i++) {
            int current = romanMap.get(roman.charAt(i));
            int next = romanMap.get(roman.charAt(i + 1));
            if (current < next) {
                total -= current;
            } else {
                total += current;
            }
        }
        total += romanMap.get(roman.charAt(roman.length() - 1));

        // Print the total
        // Your code here
    }
}

Hint

Use System.out.println(total); to show the result.

Practice

1. What is the value of the Roman numeral IX when converted to an integer?

easy

A. 6

B. 11

C. 9

D. 19

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Roman numeral rules for subtraction

   In Roman numerals, when a smaller numeral appears before a larger one, it is subtracted. Here, I (1) is before X (10), so 1 is subtracted from 10.

2. Step 2: Calculate the integer value

   10 - 1 = 9.

3. Final Answer:

   9 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   IX = 9 [OK]

Hint: Subtract when smaller numeral precedes larger one [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding values instead of subtracting
• Confusing IX with XI
• Ignoring subtraction rule

2. Which of the following Java code snippets correctly initializes a map for Roman numeral values?

easy

A. Map map = new HashMap<>(); map.add('I', 1); map.add('V', 5);

B. Map map = Map.of("I", 1, "V", 5, "X", 10);

C. Map map = new Map(); map['I'] = 1; map['V'] = 5;

D. Map map = new HashMap<>(); map.put('I', 1); map.put('V', 5); map.put('X', 10);

Solution

1. Step 1: Check correct Map initialization syntax in Java

   Java requires using a concrete class like HashMap to create a Map instance. Then, use put() method to add key-value pairs.

2. Step 2: Verify each option

   Map map = new HashMap<>(); map.put('I', 1); map.put('V', 5); map.put('X', 10); correctly uses new HashMap<>(), then map.put() calls. B uses Map.of with string keys ("I", etc.) causing type mismatch for Map<Character, Integer>. Options C and D use invalid syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   Map map = new HashMap<>(); map.put('I', 1); map.put('V', 5); map.put('X', 10); -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use HashMap and put() for map initialization [OK]

Hint: Use HashMap and put() to add entries [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using invalid Map constructor
• Using map.add() instead of map.put()
• Trying to assign values with brackets

3. What is the output of the following Java code snippet?

String s = "MCMXCIV";
int result = 0;
Map map = Map.of('I',1,'V',5,'X',10,'L',50,'C',100,'D',500,'M',1000);
for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) {
    int value = map.get(s.charAt(i));
    if (i + 1 < s.length() && value < map.get(s.charAt(i + 1))) {
        result -= value;
    } else {
        result += value;
    }
}
System.out.println(result);

medium

A. 1904

B. 1994

C. 1094

D. 1949

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the Roman numeral string and map values

   The string "MCMXCIV" represents a Roman numeral. Map assigns values: M=1000, C=100, X=10, I=1, V=5.

2. Step 2: Trace the loop and calculate result

   Loop through each character:
   - M(1000), next C(100): 1000 > 100, add 1000
   - C(100), next M(1000): 100 < 1000, subtract 100
   - M(1000), next X(10): 1000 > 10, add 1000
   - X(10), next C(100): 10 < 100, subtract 10
   - C(100), next I(1): 100 > 1, add 100
   - I(1), next V(5): 1 < 5, subtract 1
   - V(5), no next, add 5
   Sum = 1000 - 100 + 1000 - 10 + 100 - 1 + 5 = 1994.

3. Final Answer:

   1994 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   MCMXCIV = 1994 [OK]

Hint: Subtract if current < next, else add [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding all values without subtraction
• Incorrectly subtracting when not needed
• Misreading character order

4. The following Java method aims to convert a Roman numeral string to an integer but has a bug. What is the bug?

public int romanToInt(String s) {
    Map map = Map.of('I',1,'V',5,'X',10,'L',50,'C',100,'D',500,'M',1000);
    int result = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) {
        int value = map.get(s.charAt(i));
        if (i + 1 < s.length() && value > map.get(s.charAt(i + 1))) {
            result -= value;
        } else {
            result += value;
        }
    }
    return result;
}

medium

A. The comparison operator should be '<' instead of '>' in the if condition.

B. The map initialization is incorrect and causes runtime error.

C. The loop should start from 1 instead of 0.

D. The method does not handle lowercase Roman numerals.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the if condition logic

   The code subtracts value when current value is greater than next. But Roman numerals subtract when current is less than next.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct comparison operator

   The condition should be value < map.get(next char) to subtract, not value > next value.

3. Final Answer:

   The comparison operator should be '<' instead of '>' in the if condition. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Subtract when current < next [OK]

Hint: Subtract if current numeral is smaller than next [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong comparison operator
• Ignoring subtraction rule
• Assuming map initialization error

5. You want to convert a list of Roman numerals ["XL", "IX", "MMXX"] to their integer values using Java. Which approach correctly handles this with minimal code duplication?

hard

A. Write a separate method to convert one Roman numeral to integer, then loop over the list calling this method for each element.

B. Manually convert each Roman numeral in the list with separate code blocks for each string.

C. Use a single loop over the list and convert each character individually without a helper method.

D. Convert only the first Roman numeral and reuse the result for all elements.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the need for reusable code

   Converting Roman numerals requires the same logic for each string. Writing a helper method avoids repeating code.

2. Step 2: Use a loop to process the list

   Loop through the list and call the helper method for each Roman numeral string to get its integer value.

3. Final Answer:

   Write a separate method to convert one Roman numeral to integer, then loop over the list calling this method for each element. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use helper method + loop for clean code [OK]

Hint: Use helper method and loop to avoid repetition [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Repeating conversion code for each string
• Ignoring code reuse principles
• Using incorrect logic for all elements