Roman Numerals — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A library wing dated MDCCCLXXVI was opened in which year?
A) 1876
B) 1776
C) 1976
D) 1676
Adding 1000, 800, 70, and 6 gives 1876, a year often seen on older buildings and monuments.
2. Which Roman numeral correctly represents 2750?
A) MMDCC
B) MMDCCL
C) MMCDL
D) MMDLXX
MMDCCL means 2000 plus 700 plus 50, totaling 2750 in standard subtractive Roman numeral form.
3. A clock face shows IIII at the four position. Which statement is most accurate?
A) IIII is wrong everywhere
B) IIII equals five, not four
C) Both IIII and IV mean four; standard modern form is IV
D) Standard modern form is IIII
Many traditional clocks use IIII for visual balance, but modern standard Roman writing uses IV with subtractive notation.
4. A book first published in MCM tells stories from the 1800s. MCM stands for which year?
A) 1800
B) 1100
C) 1090
D) 1900
M equals 1000 and CM equals 900 by subtractive notation, so MCM is 1900, the year the book appeared.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Convert 1850 to Roman numerals: MDCCCL.
M is 1000, DCCC is 800, and L is 50, so 1850 becomes MDCCCL in Roman form.
2. Convert 2400 to Roman numerals: MMCD.
MM is 2000 and CD is 400 by subtractive notation, so 2400 is MMCD in standard form.
3. Maria reads a chapter labeled MM, then one labeled MC. The difference between the chapter numbers is 900.
MM is 2000 and MC is 1100, so the difference is 900, even though chapters this large are unusual.
4. If a coin reads MDCC, that year falls in the 18th century.
MDCC equals 1700, which is grouped with the 18th century since centuries count up by hundreds in standard usage.
5. A clock uses IIII while another uses IV for the four position. The modern standard form is IV.
Modern Roman numeral standard prefers IV because subtractive notation keeps numbers short and avoids four repeated I symbols.