20 in Roman numerals
XX
The number 20 is written XX in Roman numerals.
How XX breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
XX | 2 × 10 = 20 |
XX | 20 |
Every symbol here is written in descending order and simply added together — no subtractive pairs are involved.
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 15 | XV |
| 16 | XVI |
| 17 | XVII |
| 18 | XVIII |
| 19 | XIX |
| 20 | XX |
| 21 | XXI |
| 22 | XXII |
| 23 | XXIII |
| 24 | XXIV |
| 25 | XXV |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
20 in other notations
| Roman | XX |
| Binary | 10100 |
| Hexadecimal | 14 |
| Octal | 24 |
| Written out | 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 20:
2 × X = 20 remaining: 0The result reads XX — 2 characters, against 2 digits in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 20 in Roman numerals?
XX
How do you read XX?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. XX is 20.
How do you write 20 in words?
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.