4 in Roman numerals
IV
The number 4 is written IV in Roman numerals.
How IV breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
IV | 4 |
IV | 4 |
This numeral uses the subtractive rule: a smaller symbol placed before a larger one is subtracted from it. Only six such pairs are legal — IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900).
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 1 | I |
| 2 | II |
| 3 | III |
| 4 | IV |
| 5 | V |
| 6 | VI |
| 7 | VII |
| 8 | VIII |
| 9 | IX |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
4 in other notations
| Roman | IV |
| Binary | 100 |
| Hexadecimal | 4 |
| Octal | 4 |
| Written out | four |
Writing it by hand
Work down through the symbol values, taking as many of each as will fit before moving to the next. For 4:
IV = 4 remaining: 0The result reads IV — 2 characters, against 1 digit in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 4 in Roman numerals?
IV
How do you read IV?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. IV is 4.
How do you write 4 in words?
four.
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.