49 in Roman numerals
XLIX
The number 49 is written XLIX in Roman numerals.
How XLIX breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
XL | 40 |
IX | 9 |
XLIX | 49 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 44 | XLIV |
| 45 | XLV |
| 46 | XLVI |
| 47 | XLVII |
| 48 | XLVIII |
| 49 | XLIX |
| 50 | L |
| 51 | LI |
| 52 | LII |
| 53 | LIII |
| 54 | LIV |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
49 in other notations
| Roman | XLIX |
| Binary | 110001 |
| Hexadecimal | 31 |
| Octal | 61 |
| Written out | forty-nine |
Writing it by hand
Work down through the symbol values, taking as many of each as will fit before moving to the next. For 49:
XL = 40 remaining: 9
IX = 9 remaining: 0The result reads XLIX — 4 characters, against 2 digits in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 49 in Roman numerals?
XLIX
How do you read XLIX?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. XL is 40, IX is 9, giving 49 in total.
How do you write 49 in words?
forty-nine.
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.