120 in Roman numerals
CXX
The number 120 is written CXX in Roman numerals.
How CXX breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
C | 100 |
XX | 2 × 10 = 20 |
CXX | 120 |
Every symbol here is written in descending order and simply added together — no subtractive pairs are involved.
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 115 | CXV |
| 116 | CXVI |
| 117 | CXVII |
| 118 | CXVIII |
| 119 | CXIX |
| 120 | CXX |
| 121 | CXXI |
| 122 | CXXII |
| 123 | CXXIII |
| 124 | CXXIV |
| 125 | CXXV |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
120 in other notations
| Roman | CXX |
| Binary | 1111000 |
| Hexadecimal | 78 |
| Octal | 170 |
| Written out | one hundred and twenty |
Writing it by hand
Work down through the symbol values, taking as many of each as will fit before moving to the next. For 120:
C = 100 remaining: 20
2 × X = 20 remaining: 0The result reads CXX — 3 characters, against 3 digits in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 120 in Roman numerals?
CXX
How do you read CXX?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. C is 100, XX is 20, giving 120 in total.
How do you write 120 in words?
one hundred and twenty.
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.