27 in Roman numerals
XXVII
The number 27 is written XXVII in Roman numerals.
How XXVII breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
XX | 2 × 10 = 20 |
V | 5 |
II | 2 × 1 = 2 |
XXVII | 27 |
Every symbol here is written in descending order and simply added together — no subtractive pairs are involved.
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 22 | XXII |
| 23 | XXIII |
| 24 | XXIV |
| 25 | XXV |
| 26 | XXVI |
| 27 | XXVII |
| 28 | XXVIII |
| 29 | XXIX |
| 30 | XXX |
| 31 | XXXI |
| 32 | XXXII |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
27 in other notations
| Roman | XXVII |
| Binary | 11011 |
| Hexadecimal | 1B |
| Octal | 33 |
| Written out | twenty-seven |
Writing it by hand
Work down through the symbol values, taking as many of each as will fit before moving to the next. For 27:
2 × X = 20 remaining: 7
V = 5 remaining: 2
2 × I = 2 remaining: 0The result reads XXVII — 5 characters, against 2 digits in Arabic numerals. The verbosity at numbers like this is precisely why positional notation replaced the system for arithmetic.
Frequently asked questions
What is 27 in Roman numerals?
XXVII
How do you read XXVII?
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, V is 5, II is 2, giving 27 in total.
How do you write 27 in words?
twenty-seven.
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.