59 in Roman numerals
LIX
The number 59 is written LIX in Roman numerals.
How LIX breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
L | 50 |
IX | 9 |
LIX | 59 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 54 | LIV |
| 55 | LV |
| 56 | LVI |
| 57 | LVII |
| 58 | LVIII |
| 59 | LIX |
| 60 | LX |
| 61 | LXI |
| 62 | LXII |
| 63 | LXIII |
| 64 | LXIV |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
59 in other notations
| Roman | LIX |
| Binary | 111011 |
| Hexadecimal | 3B |
| Octal | 73 |
| Written out | fifty-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 59:
L = 50 remaining: 9
IX = 9 remaining: 0The result reads LIX — 3 characters, against 2 digits in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 59 in Roman numerals?
LIX
How do you read LIX?
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, IX is 9, giving 59 in total.
How do you write 59 in words?
fifty-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.