Question

Convert the given Roman Numerals ‘XC’ and 'C' in English numerals and then find the difference between them.
(a). 100
(b). 20
(c). 10
(d). 12

Answer 1

Hint: In this question, first you can search the meaning of the Roman Numerals XC and C, and then convert them into English numerals. Finally, finding out the difference means the subtraction between them.

Complete step-by-step answer:
A number in Roman Numerals is a string of these symbols written in descending order (e.g. M’s first, followed by D’s, etc.). However, in a few specific cases, to avoid four characters being repeated in succession (such as IIII or XXXX), subtractive notation is often used as follows:
I placed before V or X indicates one less, so four is IV (one less than 5) and 9 is IX (one less than 10).
X placed before L or C indicates ten less, so forty is XL (10 less than 50) and 90 is XC (ten less than a hundred).
C placed before D or M indicates a hundred less, so four hundred is CD (a hundred less than five hundred) and nine hundred is CM (a hundred less than a thousand).
In the Roman numerals,
C = 100 and X placed before C indicates ten less.
C= 100 and XC = 100-10 = 90
The difference between the XC and C is given by
Difference = C – XC = 100-90 = 10.
Hence the difference between XC and C is 10.
Therefore the correct option for the given question is option is (c).

Note: The possibility for the mistake is that you might get confused about the before and after place of I, X, C and M in the Roman numerals.