79 in Roman numerals
LXXIX
The number 79 is written LXXIX in Roman numerals.
How LXXIX breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
L | 50 |
XX | 2 × 10 = 20 |
IX | 9 |
LXXIX | 79 |
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 |
|---|---|
| 74 | LXXIV |
| 75 | LXXV |
| 76 | LXXVI |
| 77 | LXXVII |
| 78 | LXXVIII |
| 79 | LXXIX |
| 80 | LXXX |
| 81 | LXXXI |
| 82 | LXXXII |
| 83 | LXXXIII |
| 84 | LXXXIV |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
79 in other notations
| Roman | LXXIX |
| Binary | 1001111 |
| Hexadecimal | 4F |
| Octal | 117 |
| Written out | seventy-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 79:
L = 50 remaining: 29
2 × X = 20 remaining: 9
IX = 9 remaining: 0The result reads LXXIX — 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 79 in Roman numerals?
LXXIX
How do you read LXXIX?
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, XX is 20, IX is 9, giving 79 in total.
How do you write 79 in words?
seventy-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.