Symbols = { 1=>'I', 5=>'V', 10=>'X', 50=>'L', 100=>'C', 500=>'D', 1000=>'M' }
Subtractors = [ [1000, 100], [500, 100], [100, 10], [50, 10], [10, 1], [5, 1], [1, 0] ]

def roman(num)
  return Symbols[num]  if Symbols.has_key?(num)
  Subtractors.each do |cutPoint, subtractor|
    return roman(cutPoint) + roman(num - cutPoint)      if num >  cutPoint
    return roman(subtractor) + roman(num + subtractor)  if num >= cutPoint - subtractor and num < cutPoint
  end
end

[1990, 2008, 1666].each do |i|
  puts "%4d => %s" % [i, roman(i)]
end