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CBSE · Class 8 · Mathematics

A Story of Numbers

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Show your working for Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
DI equals:
  1. 481
  2. 601
  3. 510
  4. 501
2.
3222 in Roman numerals is:
  1. MMMCCXXII
  2. MMMCCXXXII
  3. MMMCCXXI
  4. MMMCCCXXII
3.
Our way of writing numbers, with ten digits and a zero, is called the:
  1. Mayan system
  2. Egyptian system
  3. Indian place-value system
  4. Roman numeral system
4.
A Mesopotamian number has 8 in the sixties place and 18 in the ones place. Its value is:
  1. 26
  2. 818
  3. 98
  4. 498
5.
A Mayan number has 16 in the twenties place and 10 in the ones place. Its value is:
  1. 330
  2. 26
  3. 970
  4. 170
6.
An Egyptian number shows 4 fingers, 6 lotus flowers, 5 coils of rope, 6 heel bones and 9 strokes. Its value is:
  1. 96564
  2. 46569
  3. 30
  4. 47569
7.
MMXXVI is the year:
  1. 1026
  2. 2016
  3. 2026
  4. 2024
8.
Which is larger: MCCXVIII or MCMXIII?
  1. MCMXIII
  2. you cannot tell without counting letters
  3. they are equal
  4. MCCXVIII
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
Write in our numerals: CXV and MMMCDLXXXVI.
10.
Write 2925 in Roman numerals.
11.
Write 209 as a Mayan (base 20) number: how many twenties and how many ones?
12.
Write 51350 seconds in hours, minutes and seconds (base 60).
13.
Write 61434 with Egyptian symbols. How many symbols is that, compared with how many digits in our system?
14.
Add DCCCLXXIV and CXCV. Give the answer in Roman numerals.
15.
A base-60 number has digits 26, 58, 37 (from the left). What is its value in our system?
16.
How many symbols does the Egyptian system need for 9184? Why does our system need only 4?
Section C — Word problems4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
A building has the year MDCX carved over its door. When was it built, and how many years before 2026 was that?
18.
Zoya's stopwatch counted 19263 seconds during a long trek. Write this in hours, minutes and seconds.
19.
A Mayan record shows 17 twenties and 19 ones of days. Another record shows 16 twenties. How many days is that in all?
20.
An Egyptian tablet records cattle as 2 lotus flowers, 6 coils of rope, 3 heel bones and 1 stroke. How many cattle is that? Write the number in Roman numerals too.
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 8 · Mathematics

Answer key

A Story of Numbers · AW-8M-SON-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(d) 501DI = 501
2(a) MMMCCXXIIM M M C C X X I I
3(c) Indian place-value systemit reached Europe through Arab scholars
4(d) 4988 × 60 + 18
5(a) 33016 × 20 + 10
6(b) 46569lotus 1000, coil 100, heel bone 10, stroke 1; finger 10,000
7(c) 20261000 + 1000 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1
8(a) MCMXIIIMCCXVIII = 1218, MCMXIII = 1913
9115 and 3486a smaller symbol before a larger one is subtracted
10MMCMXXV2000 = MM, 900 = CM, 20 = XX, 5 = V
1110 twenties and 9 ones209 = 10 × 20 + 9
1214 h 15 min 50 s51350 ÷ 3600 = 14 remainder 950; 950 ÷ 60 = 15 remainder 50
136 fingers, 1 lotus flower, 4 coils of rope, 3 heel bones and 4 strokes: 18 symbols vs 5 digitsone symbol for each unit of each place; the digit sum counts them
14MLXIX874 + 195 = 1069
159711726 × 3600 + 58 × 60 + 37
1622; place value: each digit's place gives its value9 + 1 + 8 + 4 = 22 symbols
171610; 416 yearsMDCX = 1610; 2026 − 1610
185 h 21 min 3 s5 × 3600 + 21 × 60 + 3 = 19263
19679 days359 + 320
202631; MMDCXXXIadd the place values, then convert