40 in Roman numerals is XL. One may get confused that 40 in Roman numerals is XXXX, but this is incorrect. Now the question is, why? To understand why we write 40 as XL in roman numerals, one should know the basic rules to convert the natural numbers to roman numerals, and vice versa. So, let’s have a look at the chart given below to know the equivalent roman numerals for some important numbers.
Natural numbers |
1 |
5 |
10 |
50 |
100 |
500 |
1000 |
Corresponding Roman numerals |
I |
V |
X |
L |
C |
D |
M |
Learn: Roman numerals
Conversion of 40 to Roman Numerals
The value of 40 in roman numerals is XL. The below figure shows the conversion of 40 to roman numerals.
Also, try: Roman numerals Converter
How to Write Numbers in Roman Numerals?
Consider the following sequence of roman numerals:
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX
From this, we can write the following basic rules for the conversion of roman numerals to numerical values.
- When a bigger letter precedes a smaller letter, we should subtract the corresponding numerical values. For example, the value of XL can be derived as L – X = 50 – 10 = 40, where L is the bigger number.
- Also, the notation XL can be read as “ten less than fifty, i.e. 40”.
- When a bigger letter succeeds a smaller letter, we should add the corresponding numerical values. Consider LX, where X is the bigger number. So, LX = L + X = 50 + 10 = 60. Also, the notation LX can be read as “ten more than fifty, i.e. 60”.
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Video Lesson on Roman Numerals
1-40 in Roman Numerals
The below table shows the equivalent roman numerals for the numbers from 1 to 40.
1 to 20 in Roman Numerals |
21 to 40 in Roman Numerals |
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Number |
Expansion |
Roman Numeral |
Number |
Roman Numeral |
|
1 |
1 |
I |
21 |
10 + 10 + 1 |
XXI |
2 |
1 + 1 |
II |
22 |
10 + 10 + 1 + 1 |
XXII |
3 |
1 + 1 + 1 |
III |
23 |
10 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 |
XXIII |
4 |
5 – 1 |
IV |
24 |
10 + 10 – 1 + 5 |
XXIV |
5 |
5 |
V |
25 |
10 + 10 + 5 |
XXV |
6 |
5 + 1 |
VI |
26 |
10 + 10 + 5 + 1 |
XXVI |
7 |
5 + 1 + 1 |
VII |
27 |
10 + 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 |
XXVII |
8 |
5 + 1 + 1 + 1 |
VIII |
28 |
10 + 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 |
XXVIII |
9 |
10 – 1 |
IX |
29 |
10 + 10 – 1 + 10 |
XXIX |
10 |
10 |
X |
30 |
10 + 10 + 10 |
XXX |
11 |
10 + 1 |
XI |
31 |
10 + 10 + 10 + 1 |
XXXI |
12 |
10 + 1 + 1 |
XII |
32 |
10 + 10 + 10 + 1 + 1 |
XXXII |
13 |
10 + 1 + 1 + 1 |
XIII |
33 |
10 + 10 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 1 |
XXXIII |
14 |
10 – 1 + 5 |
XIV |
34 |
10 + 10 + 10 – 1 + 5 |
XXXIV |
15 |
10 + 5 |
XV |
35 |
10 + 10 + 10 + 5 |
XXXV |
16 |
10 + 5 + 1 |
XVI |
36 |
10 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 |
XXXVI |
17 |
10 + 5 + 1 + 1 |
XVII |
37 |
10 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 |
XXXVII |
18 |
10 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 |
XVIII |
38 |
10 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 |
XXXVIII |
19 |
10 – 1 + 10 |
XIX |
39 |
10 + 10 + 10 – 1 + 10 |
XXXIV |
20 |
10 + 10 |
XX |
40 |
50 – 10 |
XL |
Get the conversion of some specific numbers to Roman Numerals:
30 in Roman numerals = 10 + 10 + 10 = X + X + X = XXX
41 in Roman numerals = 50 – 10 + 1 = L – X + I = XLI
44 in Roman numerals = 50 – 10 – 1 + 5 = L – X – I + V = XLIV
45 in Roman numerals = 50 – 10 + 5 = L – X + V = XLV
49 in Roman numerals = 50 – 10 – 1 + 10 = L – X – I + 10 = XLIX
50 in Roman numerals = L
60 in Roman numerals = 50 +10 = L + X = LX
90 in Roman numerals = 100 – 10 = C – X = XC
500 in Roman numerals = D
1000 in Roman numerals = M
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