1 in Roman numerals
I
The number 1 is written I in Roman numerals.
How I breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
I | 1 |
I | 1 |
Every symbol here is written in descending order and simply added together — no subtractive pairs are involved.
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 1 | I |
| 2 | II |
| 3 | III |
| 4 | IV |
| 5 | V |
| 6 | VI |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
1 in other notations
| Roman | I |
| Binary | 1 |
| Hexadecimal | 1 |
| Octal | 1 |
| Written out | one |
Writing it by hand
Work down through the symbol values, taking as many of each as will fit before moving to the next. For 1:
I = 1 remaining: 0The result reads I — 1 character, against 1 digit in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1 in Roman numerals?
I
How do you read I?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. I is 1.
How do you write 1 in words?
one.
Why is there no zero?
Roman numerals have no symbol for zero. The concept reached Europe only with Hindu-Arabic numerals, centuries after the system was in use — which is a large part of why it was eventually replaced for arithmetic.