MATH 4109 - Test 1 UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Why is it difficult to determine the unique value of a Babylonian numeral? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The lack of a zero makes it difficult to determine the place values of the
digits.
Which system employed a subtractive principle in which the symbol for a smaller number is
placed in front of the symbol for a larger number? - CORRECT ANSWER - Roman
What strategy did the Romans use to represent numbers that were multiples of 1000? -
CORRECT ANSWER - A bar was drawn over the necessary symbols.
What symbols did the ancient Mayans use to represent the numbers from 1 to 19? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Dots and horizontal bars
What number does the symbol L represent in the Roman numeral system? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 50
What number did the Babylonians use as the base for their numeration system? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 60
True or False: It is commonly accepted that mathematics originated with problems related to
solving equations. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Which style of writing did the Babylonians use? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cuneiform
What number is the base for a sexagesimal numeration system? - CORRECT ANSWER -
60
, According to our notes and discussion, which civilization employed a symbol for zero? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Mayan
What was the most important rule that the Egyptians used when they wrote sums of unit
fractions? - CORRECT ANSWER - They could never use the same unit fraction twice.
Egypt is on which continent? - CORRECT ANSWER - Africa
What was unique about the Egyptians' work with fractions? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Their refusal to deal with fractions that were not unit fractions or (2/3)
For the Egyptians, the multiplication of two numbers was accomplished by successively
doubling one of the factors. After that was done, what operation was used? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Addition
What was the only fraction used by the Egyptians besides unit fractions? - CORRECT
ANSWER - (2/3)
Why is it generally accepted that geometry originated in the ancient Egyptian empire? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The yearly floods of the Nile required that land had to be
remeasured for tax purposes.
Most of our knowledge of early mathematics in Egypt comes from two papyri. One is known as
the Moscow Papyrus. What is the other one called? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Rhind
Papyrus
The method of false position is most similar to which problem-solving strategy? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Guess and Check (also know as trial and error)
Whose army uncovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799? - CORRECT ANSWER - Napoleon
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Why is it difficult to determine the unique value of a Babylonian numeral? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The lack of a zero makes it difficult to determine the place values of the
digits.
Which system employed a subtractive principle in which the symbol for a smaller number is
placed in front of the symbol for a larger number? - CORRECT ANSWER - Roman
What strategy did the Romans use to represent numbers that were multiples of 1000? -
CORRECT ANSWER - A bar was drawn over the necessary symbols.
What symbols did the ancient Mayans use to represent the numbers from 1 to 19? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Dots and horizontal bars
What number does the symbol L represent in the Roman numeral system? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 50
What number did the Babylonians use as the base for their numeration system? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 60
True or False: It is commonly accepted that mathematics originated with problems related to
solving equations. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Which style of writing did the Babylonians use? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cuneiform
What number is the base for a sexagesimal numeration system? - CORRECT ANSWER -
60
, According to our notes and discussion, which civilization employed a symbol for zero? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Mayan
What was the most important rule that the Egyptians used when they wrote sums of unit
fractions? - CORRECT ANSWER - They could never use the same unit fraction twice.
Egypt is on which continent? - CORRECT ANSWER - Africa
What was unique about the Egyptians' work with fractions? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Their refusal to deal with fractions that were not unit fractions or (2/3)
For the Egyptians, the multiplication of two numbers was accomplished by successively
doubling one of the factors. After that was done, what operation was used? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Addition
What was the only fraction used by the Egyptians besides unit fractions? - CORRECT
ANSWER - (2/3)
Why is it generally accepted that geometry originated in the ancient Egyptian empire? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The yearly floods of the Nile required that land had to be
remeasured for tax purposes.
Most of our knowledge of early mathematics in Egypt comes from two papyri. One is known as
the Moscow Papyrus. What is the other one called? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Rhind
Papyrus
The method of false position is most similar to which problem-solving strategy? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Guess and Check (also know as trial and error)
Whose army uncovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799? - CORRECT ANSWER - Napoleon
