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Quiz about Famous Mathematicians and Scientists
Quiz about Famous Mathematicians and Scientists

Famous Mathematicians and Scientists Quiz


This quiz will test your knowledge of famous mathematicians and their contribution to our knowledge. It also includes some information about their writings in general.

A multiple-choice quiz by DavidGordon. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
DavidGordon
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
308,658
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1496
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: jonnowales (9/10), Guest 124 (3/10), Guest 207 (3/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. This mathematician said "Cogito, ergo sum". Translated into English, this is "I think, therefore I am". Who uttered these words? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. A famous textbook, "The Elements", was still used as recently as the twentieth century. Who was the author of this text? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Many adults today regard Algebra as the least favoured section of their school mathematics. Who can we blame for early works leading to this dreaded subject, algebra? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. When finding the circumference and the area of circles, we recall that this funny number 'pi' is used. Pi is a number which never ends, and in some schools is given as approximately 3.14 or in fraction form as 22/7. Who is credited with the first value for pi, as between 3 10/71 and 3 11/71? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Probably one of the most-remembered things about high school geometry is that one about the right-angled triangles, and that 'hypotenuse', and those other sides. If those sides are H for hypotenuse, A and B for the other sides, then A squared plus B squared equalled H squared. Who was it who wrote this relationship? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Most countries of the world have adopted the Metric System of measurement as their main or sole system of measurement. Who was one of the main people behind the metric system as far back as 1790? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Robert Boyle is credited with a Law which now bears his name. What is the main area with which this Law deals? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Albert Einstein was considered to be a prolific scientist, with work in several fields. Of the following areas of science, which is one in which Einstein is not famed? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The name Trinity has serious implications for humanity. What event in history caused this concern? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Today we rely on high speed computers for calculations. Who were two very early pioneers in the development of mechanical calculators? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 09 2024 : jonnowales: 9/10
Mar 06 2024 : Guest 124: 3/10
Mar 04 2024 : Guest 207: 3/10
Feb 09 2024 : horadada: 6/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This mathematician said "Cogito, ergo sum". Translated into English, this is "I think, therefore I am". Who uttered these words?

Answer: Rene Descartes

The Cartesian coordinate system, in which geometric shapes can be expressed in algebraic terms is named after Descartes. The quote is taken from his philosophical classic 'Discourse on Method'.
2. A famous textbook, "The Elements", was still used as recently as the twentieth century. Who was the author of this text?

Answer: Euclid of Alexandria

Euclid deduced his theorems from a small basic set of axioms or postulates which were self-evident. These theorems are still the basis of Euclidian geometry today.
3. Many adults today regard Algebra as the least favoured section of their school mathematics. Who can we blame for early works leading to this dreaded subject, algebra?

Answer: Diophantus of Alexandria

Diophantus wrote a textbook containing algebraic equations. Some 500 years later, a Persian mathematician, al-Kwarizmi was attributed with writing similar works.
4. When finding the circumference and the area of circles, we recall that this funny number 'pi' is used. Pi is a number which never ends, and in some schools is given as approximately 3.14 or in fraction form as 22/7. Who is credited with the first value for pi, as between 3 10/71 and 3 11/71?

Answer: Archimedes of Syracuse

Archimedes drew a very large circle. Archimedes drew regular polygons (straight-sided figures with sides of equal length) around the circle, and inside the circle. He started with 12-sided figures, then 24-sided, 48-sided and finally 96-sided. The small arc lengths approximated to straight lines, so the value of pi could be related to the radius.

The numbers may seem an odd choice, but exactly six chords of length equal to the radius fit exactly inside a circle. Continually halving the length leads to the numbers he chose.
5. Probably one of the most-remembered things about high school geometry is that one about the right-angled triangles, and that 'hypotenuse', and those other sides. If those sides are H for hypotenuse, A and B for the other sides, then A squared plus B squared equalled H squared. Who was it who wrote this relationship?

Answer: Pythagoras

Although the 'Pythagorean Theorem' is listed as his work, many believe he drew on knowledge of others, particularly the Babylonians. Pythagoras is believed to be the first to prove the relationship.
6. Most countries of the world have adopted the Metric System of measurement as their main or sole system of measurement. Who was one of the main people behind the metric system as far back as 1790?

Answer: Joseph Louis Lagrange

There are only three countries which have not wholly or partially adopted the metric system. These are: Liberia, Myanmar and United States of America. The metric system was first proposed around the time of the French Revolution. Several people originally involved withe the setting up of metrics were removed, and Lagrange was one to follow through with the process.
7. Robert Boyle is credited with a Law which now bears his name. What is the main area with which this Law deals?

Answer: Gas pressures and volumes

Boyle was very keen on gases, and devised an air pump. He wrote a paper denouncing some principles of alchemists, preferring to study the nature of matter.
8. Albert Einstein was considered to be a prolific scientist, with work in several fields. Of the following areas of science, which is one in which Einstein is not famed?

Answer: first space satellite

Einstein is most famous for the theories of relativity. His work on photon theory, and the photo-electric effect led to many of his later theories.
9. The name Trinity has serious implications for humanity. What event in history caused this concern?

Answer: Code name for the first atomic explosion at Alamogordo, New Mexico

It is uncertain where the name Trinity came from, although it is thought that one of the developers of the bomb had an interest in Sanskrit literature. Robert Oppenheimer named it, and it is believed to be in reference to the divine Hindu trinity of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the keeper or preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer). Oppenheimer taught himself to read Sanskrit, and is reported to have recited a passage from The Bhagavad-Gita (a sacred Sanskrit Scripture)
"If the radiance of a thousand suns
Were to burst at once into the sky,
That would be like the splendor of the Mighty One...
I am become Death,
The shatterer of Worlds."
10. Today we rely on high speed computers for calculations. Who were two very early pioneers in the development of mechanical calculators?

Answer: Blaise Pascal and Wilhelm Schickard

Pascal designed his calculator to assist his father. He had difficulty because the currency at that time was like the UK and Australian currencies prior to decimal currency. There were 12 deniers to a sol and 20 sol to a livre. Those in Australia and the UK will remember 12 pence to a shilling, 20 shillings to a pound.
Source: Author DavidGordon

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
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