50 in Roman numerals
L
The number 50 is written L in Roman numerals.
How L breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
L | 50 |
L | 50 |
Every symbol here is written in descending order and simply added together — no subtractive pairs are involved.
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 45 | XLV |
| 46 | XLVI |
| 47 | XLVII |
| 48 | XLVIII |
| 49 | XLIX |
| 50 | L |
| 51 | LI |
| 52 | LII |
| 53 | LIII |
| 54 | LIV |
| 55 | LV |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
50 in other notations
| Roman | L |
| Binary | 110010 |
| Hexadecimal | 32 |
| Octal | 62 |
| Written out | fifty |
Writing it by hand
Work down through the symbol values, taking as many of each as will fit before moving to the next. For 50:
L = 50 remaining: 0The result reads L — 1 character, against 2 digits in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 50 in Roman numerals?
L
How do you read L?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. L is 50.
How do you write 50 in words?
fifty.
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.