How to write 550 in Roman numerals
Roman numerals are built place by place, from the largest value to the smallest. For 550 the places are 500 (hundreds), 50 (tens).
- Write 500 as
D. - Write 50 as
L.
Joined together, D + L gives DL.
550 digit by digit
| Place | Value | Numeral | Rule used |
|---|---|---|---|
| hundreds | 500 | D | the five symbol on its own |
| tens | 50 | L | the five symbol on its own |
Check DL by reading it back
Reading DL from left to right and adding the pieces: D = 500, L = 50. Together that is 500 + 50 = 550, so DL and 550 match.
Mistakes to avoid with DL
- Only I, X and C may be placed before a larger symbol to subtract, so DL never contains forms such as VX or LC.
- Read DL as one number, not letter by letter: add the values left to right, except where a smaller symbol sits before a larger one.
Facts about the number 550
- 550 is an even number and composite, with prime factors 2 x 52 x 11.
- In binary 550 is
1000100110and in hexadecimal it is226. - Written out, 550 is "five hundred fifty".
- The digits of 550 add up to 10.
Where you will see 550 in Roman numerals
In vast printed collections, 550 is expressed as DL within the introductory or prefatory pages. Editors rely on Roman numerals for front matter to signal to readers that the primary Arabic-numbered content has not yet started.
Numbers near 550
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 548 | DXLVIII |
| 549 | DXLIX |
| 550 | DL |
| 551 | DLI |
| 552 | DLII |
FAQ
What is 550 in Roman numerals?
550 is written DL in Roman numerals. It is built from D (500), L (50).
How do you write 550 in lowercase Roman numerals?
Lowercase Roman numerals use the same rules, so 550 is dl. Lowercase is common for page numbers in a book's preface and for outline levels.
How do I convert any number to Roman numerals?
Split the number into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, write each part with the symbols I, V, X, L, C, D and M, then join them from largest to smallest. Or paste it into the Roman numeral converter, which also converts back.
More roman numerals
- 500 (D): previous page
- 600 (DC): next page
- Roman numerals chart: the full list