Roman Numerals — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which Roman numeral is the largest in value?
A) MCD
B) CMX
C) DCC
D) CDL
MCD equals 1400, which is greater than 910, 700, and 450.
2. Some clock faces show IIII at the 4 position. Why might IIII appear instead of IV?
A) IIII is wrong
B) Visual symmetry on clocks
C) IIII equals 6
D) IIII is bigger
Clockmakers traditionally used IIII to balance the look of VIII across the dial.
3. Order from smallest to largest: XC, CD, MM, M. What comes second?
A) XC
B) M
C) CD
D) MM
Sorted small to large: XC, CD, M, MM, so CD is the second smallest.
4. A book has chapters labeled I to L. How many chapters does it have?
A) 5
B) 15
C) 25
D) 50
Chapters run from chapter one through chapter fifty, since L equals fifty.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Write 444 in Roman numerals: CDXLIV.
Four hundred plus forty plus four equals 444, written CDXLIV.
2. Convert MMXII to a year: 2012.
M plus M is 2000 and XII is 12, so MMXII equals the year 2012.
3. Write 999 in Roman numerals: CMXCIX.
Nine hundred plus ninety plus nine totals 999, written CMXCIX.
4. Read DCCC as a number: 800.
D is 500 and CCC is 300, so together they make 800.
5. Write the year 1776 in Roman numerals: MDCCLXXVI.
1000 plus 700 plus 50 plus 20 plus 6 equals 1776 in Roman form.