Question

Find the sum of the expression: IX + XV + XX = _________
(a) 45
(b) 35
(c) 44
(d) 40

Answer 1

Hint: Use the roman numerals knowledge to write IX as 9, XV as 15 and XX as 20. Then add these to find the desired result.

Complete step-by-step answer:
We have been asked to find the value of the given expression, that is, IX + XV + XX.
Actually the term whose sum we have been asked to find is called the Roman numerals.
Roman numerals is a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe. Numbers in this system are represented by a combination of letters from present in English alphabet. Modern usage employs seven symbols each with a fixed integer value, as shown in the following table:

Symbol	I	V	X	L	C	D	M
Value	1	5	10	50	100	500	1000

If ‘I’ is placed on the left hand side, then the value of the symbol is subtracted by ‘1’. For example:
IV becomes 5 – 1 = 4
Similarly, if ‘I’ is placed on the right hand side, then the value of symbols is added by ‘1’. For example:
VI becomes 5 + 1 = 6
This same procedure is followed for all the symbols.
IX here ‘I’ is place on left of X, so we get
IX = 10 – 1 = 9………..(i)
Similarly, in XV, ‘V’ is placed on the right hand side of the ‘X’, so we add as shown below:
XV = 10 + 5 = 15……(ii)
Now, XX = 10 + 10 = 20………(iii)
So, the given expression is,
IX + XV + XX
Substituting the values from equation (i), (ii) and (iii), we get
IX + XV + XX = 9 + 15 + 20 = 44
Hence, the correct answer is option (c).

Note: Students should have knowledge about symbols, notations and other facts related to the roman numerals. They should also be careful about substituting the values otherwise the answer will be wrong.