MATH 4109 - Test 2 ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What strategy did the Chinese use on their counting boards to avoid confusion between
consecutive places? - CORRECT ANSWER - Alternating the orientation of the rods
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
Which set of numbers was used on the counting boards of the ancient Chinese? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Integers -- both postive and negative
How was ancient Chinese mathematics different from ancient Greek mathematics? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The Chinese mathematics did not have a proof-based axiomatic development.
True or False: The Chinese numeration system that required the use of a counting board and rods
was not a positional system. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
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.
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.
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
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^(1/2) ? - CORRECT ANSWER - 100a + 10b + c
, The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art was central to the development of mathematics in
which country? - CORRECT ANSWER - China
Which mathematician/poet used geometric methods to solve cubic equations? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Omar Khayyam
In what area did the mathematician, Al-Uqlidisi, make his contributions? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Decimal fractions
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.
What was the FIRST "translation movement?" - CORRECT ANSWER - The movement to
translate the world's knowledge into Arabic.
The Islamic mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, made his most significant contributions to which
topic in mathematics? - CORRECT ANSWER - Solving equations
Which city was the academic and intellectual center of the Islamic Empire and the home to the
House of Wisdom? - CORRECT ANSWER - Baghdad
The mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, used a symbol for zero in his book about numeration. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
In what branch of mathematics were the most important contributions of the Islamic
mathematicians? - CORRECT ANSWER - Algebra
What was the significance of The Book on Addition and Subtraction? - CORRECT
ANSWER - It explained the use of the Hindu decimal system of numerals.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What strategy did the Chinese use on their counting boards to avoid confusion between
consecutive places? - CORRECT ANSWER - Alternating the orientation of the rods
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
Which set of numbers was used on the counting boards of the ancient Chinese? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Integers -- both postive and negative
How was ancient Chinese mathematics different from ancient Greek mathematics? - CORRECT
ANSWER - The Chinese mathematics did not have a proof-based axiomatic development.
True or False: The Chinese numeration system that required the use of a counting board and rods
was not a positional system. - CORRECT ANSWER - False
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.
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.
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
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^(1/2) ? - CORRECT ANSWER - 100a + 10b + c
, The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art was central to the development of mathematics in
which country? - CORRECT ANSWER - China
Which mathematician/poet used geometric methods to solve cubic equations? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Omar Khayyam
In what area did the mathematician, Al-Uqlidisi, make his contributions? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Decimal fractions
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.
What was the FIRST "translation movement?" - CORRECT ANSWER - The movement to
translate the world's knowledge into Arabic.
The Islamic mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, made his most significant contributions to which
topic in mathematics? - CORRECT ANSWER - Solving equations
Which city was the academic and intellectual center of the Islamic Empire and the home to the
House of Wisdom? - CORRECT ANSWER - Baghdad
The mathematician, al-Khwarizmi, used a symbol for zero in his book about numeration. -
CORRECT ANSWER - True
In what branch of mathematics were the most important contributions of the Islamic
mathematicians? - CORRECT ANSWER - Algebra
What was the significance of The Book on Addition and Subtraction? - CORRECT
ANSWER - It explained the use of the Hindu decimal system of numerals.
