Math 4109 Exam 2 UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Chinese Square Root Algorithm: If a, b, and c are the digits (respectively) of the square root of
X, then which of the following is equal to X^0.5? - CORRECT ANSWER - a+b+c
How was ancient Chinese mathematics different from ancient Greek mathematics? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The Chinese mathematics did not have a proof-based axiomatic development.
The method that Liu Hui used to approximate the value of pi was similar to the method used by
which Greek mathematician? - CORRECT ANSWER - Archimedes
We have used the word "gnomon" in several places during this course, particularly during the
module on ancient Chinese mathematics. What letter of the alphabet is a gnomon shaped like? -
CORRECT ANSWER -L
True or False: The Chinese numeration system that requred the use of a counting board and rods
was not a positional system. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art was central to the development of mathematics in
which country? - CORRECT ANSWER - China
Why did Chinese mathematics develop independently of Western cultural influence for so long?
- CORRECT ANSWER - The geography of China isolated the region from the rest of the
world.
Which set of numbers was used on the counting boards of the ancient Chinese? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Integers -- both postive and negative
Why is the book Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art significant in the history of
mathematics? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is central to Chinese mathematical activity for
hundreds of years.
, What strategy did the Chinese use on their counting boards to avoid confusion between
consecutive places? - CORRECT ANSWER - Alternating the orientation of the rods
To what did "al-Jabr" and "al-Muqabala" refer in the title of al-Khwarizmi's book? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The operations used during the Islamic Empire to solve equations.
Which mathematician/poet used geometric methods to solve cubic equations? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Omar Khayyam
The Islamic mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, made his most significant contributions to which
topic in mathematics? - CORRECT ANSWER - Solving equations
The mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, used a symbol for zero in his book about numeration. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
During the period of the Islamic Empire, negative numbers were acceptable solutions of
quadratic equations. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
What was the FIRST "translation movement?" - CORRECT ANSWER - The movement to
translate the world's knowledge into Arabic.
What was the significance of The Book on Addition and Subtraction? - CORRECT
ANSWER - It explained the use of the Hindu decimal system of numerals.
Which city was the academic and intellectual center of the Islamic Empire and the home to the
House of Wisdom? - CORRECT ANSWER - Baghdad
In what area did the mathematician, Al-Uqlidisi, make his contributions? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Decimal fractions
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Chinese Square Root Algorithm: If a, b, and c are the digits (respectively) of the square root of
X, then which of the following is equal to X^0.5? - CORRECT ANSWER - a+b+c
How was ancient Chinese mathematics different from ancient Greek mathematics? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The Chinese mathematics did not have a proof-based axiomatic development.
The method that Liu Hui used to approximate the value of pi was similar to the method used by
which Greek mathematician? - CORRECT ANSWER - Archimedes
We have used the word "gnomon" in several places during this course, particularly during the
module on ancient Chinese mathematics. What letter of the alphabet is a gnomon shaped like? -
CORRECT ANSWER -L
True or False: The Chinese numeration system that requred the use of a counting board and rods
was not a positional system. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art was central to the development of mathematics in
which country? - CORRECT ANSWER - China
Why did Chinese mathematics develop independently of Western cultural influence for so long?
- CORRECT ANSWER - The geography of China isolated the region from the rest of the
world.
Which set of numbers was used on the counting boards of the ancient Chinese? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Integers -- both postive and negative
Why is the book Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art significant in the history of
mathematics? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is central to Chinese mathematical activity for
hundreds of years.
, What strategy did the Chinese use on their counting boards to avoid confusion between
consecutive places? - CORRECT ANSWER - Alternating the orientation of the rods
To what did "al-Jabr" and "al-Muqabala" refer in the title of al-Khwarizmi's book? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The operations used during the Islamic Empire to solve equations.
Which mathematician/poet used geometric methods to solve cubic equations? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Omar Khayyam
The Islamic mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, made his most significant contributions to which
topic in mathematics? - CORRECT ANSWER - Solving equations
The mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, used a symbol for zero in his book about numeration. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
During the period of the Islamic Empire, negative numbers were acceptable solutions of
quadratic equations. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
What was the FIRST "translation movement?" - CORRECT ANSWER - The movement to
translate the world's knowledge into Arabic.
What was the significance of The Book on Addition and Subtraction? - CORRECT
ANSWER - It explained the use of the Hindu decimal system of numerals.
Which city was the academic and intellectual center of the Islamic Empire and the home to the
House of Wisdom? - CORRECT ANSWER - Baghdad
In what area did the mathematician, Al-Uqlidisi, make his contributions? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Decimal fractions
