10 in Roman numerals
10 is written X. X is a letter of its own.
The answer
X
10 in Roman numerals is X.
How X is built
To write it, 10 is 1 ten and no ones, so it is just the tens: X. There is no zero to write.
To read it, X is one letter, so there is nothing to add up.
| Chunk | Worth | Why |
|---|---|---|
| X | 10 | Add |
The mistake to watch for
Writing 10 as VV
Wrong: VV
VV does add up to 10, but V is never written twice, because two fives make the next letter up. 10 is X.
Check it with the converter
Type VV to see why VV is not 10. The rule numbers it gives are the three rules on the Roman numerals page.
Converter set to X (10).
Keep going
Questions parents ask
What is 10 in Roman numerals?
10 is X.
What comes before and after X?
9 is IX and 11 is XI. The whole numeral changes: IX becomes X.
Does X use subtraction?
No. X is a single letter, so there is nothing to take away.
What is the biggest letter in X?
X, which is 10. X is a single letter.
Where might you see X?
On clock faces, where the hours from I to XII go round the dial.
When do children learn X?
In Year 3. The national curriculum has Year 3 children tell the time on clocks with Roman numerals from I to XII, so X is one of the first numerals they meet. Year 4 then reads numerals to 100.
Careful reading is an 11+ skill
Knowing X is 10 at a glance is the quick recall 11+ papers reward. The free diagnostic covers all four subjects, with no card needed.