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Weapons Of Math Destruction Trivia Quiz

Mathematical concepts inspire fear in many, so here I try something a little different: I identify a particular mathematical idea, or weapon of "math" destruction, while you idenitfy its name, inventor/discoverer or place of origin; or vice-versa.

A multiple-choice quiz by lola0177. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
lola0177

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
344,048

Updated
Feb 23 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
757

Last 3 plays: PurpleComet (7/10), Guest 75 (9/10), colbymanram (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Pi, the mathematical constant that denotes the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, is also known as Archimedes' Constant. Where did Archimedes, who lived in the third century BC and provided an approximation for pi, hail from? Hint

Syracuse, Greece

Alexandria, Egypt

Athens, Greece

Damascus, Syria

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which pre-Columbian Meso-American civilization introduced the use of the number zero in its base-twenty system? Hint

Olmec

Carib

Inca

Arawak

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Question 3 of 10

3. The Golden Ratio, an irrational mathematical constant approximated by 1.618, is also known as the mean of which ancient sculptor? Hint

Phidias

Myron

Pygmalion

Odysseus

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Question 4 of 10

4. "The square of the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of its legs." This is the statement of which dreaded high school geometry theorem? Hint

Euclidean theorem

Pythagorean theorem

Archimedean theorem

Newtonian theorem

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which branch of mathematics derives its name from the Arabic word "Al-Jabr?" Hint

geometry

algebra

calculus

trigonometry

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Question 6 of 10

6. The invention of which branch of mathematics is attributed to both Leibniz and Newton? Hint

geometry

calculus

algebra

trigonometry

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Question 7 of 10

7. The French genius Evariste Galois, one of the greatest mathematical talents of all time, is said to have foretold his own death. Having proved the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, Evariste Galois then died in which manner? Hint

a duel

killed in the battlefield

tuberculosis

old age

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Question 8 of 10

8. The systematic study of which mathematical field is said to have originated with Blaise Pascal's gambling habits? Hint

probability

geometry

calculus

algebra

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Question 9 of 10

9. Finally proved by Andrew Wiles in 1993, which theorem by Pierre de Fermat baffled mathematicians for more than 300 years? Hint

Fermat's First Theorem

Fermat's Last Theorem

Fermat's identity

none of the above

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who came up with the Theory of Relativity, of mathematical as well as scientific importance? Hint

Newton

Euclid

Pascal

Einstein

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Apr 16 2024 : PurpleComet: 7/10
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 75: 9/10
Feb 26 2024 : colbymanram: 5/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Syracuse, Greece

The use of pi is widespread in many areas of mathematics and physics. Perhaps one of the best known formulae to involve pi is that for the area of a circle, given by "pi multiplied by the square of the circle's radius."

2. Which pre-Columbian Meso-American civilization introduced the use of the number zero in its base-twenty system?

Answer: Olmec

The Meso-American Long Count calendar required the use of zero as a place-holder in its base-twenty system.

3. The Golden Ratio, an irrational mathematical constant approximated by 1.618, is also known as the mean of which ancient sculptor?

Answer: Phidias

Though popularized in such recent works as "The Da Vinci Code" and the movie "Pi", the Golden Ratio was known to such eminent Greek mathematicians as Pythagoras and Euclid.

Answer: Pythagorean theorem

Known not only as a mathematician but also as a philosopher, Pythagoras founded a religious colony, which may have been linked to the adoration of Apollo, in southern Italy in circa 530 BC.

5. Which branch of mathematics derives its name from the Arabic word "Al-Jabr?"

Answer: algebra

Algebra, whose roots can be traced to the Babylonians, observed the introduction of modern notation only at the end of the 16th century.

6. The invention of which branch of mathematics is attributed to both Leibniz and Newton?

Answer: calculus

Controversy surrounds the development of calculus, though both are now believed to have developed it independently.

Answer: a duel

Legend has it that Galois accelerated his own pace of discovery because he felt he would die in a duel, whose causes are unknown, which took place May 30, 1832. Much speculated at, a broken love affair is supposed to be one of the duel's motives.

8. The systematic study of which mathematical field is said to have originated with Blaise Pascal's gambling habits?

Answer: probability

Binomial coefficients, of much use in probability, are famously enumerated in Pascal's triangle.

9. Finally proved by Andrew Wiles in 1993, which theorem by Pierre de Fermat baffled mathematicians for more than 300 years?

Answer: Fermat's Last Theorem

Though simply stated, Fermat's Last Theorem required the invention by Wiles of new mathematical concepts.

10. Who came up with the Theory of Relativity, of mathematical as well as scientific importance?

Answer: Einstein

The mass-energy equivalence, or E=mc^2, encodes relativity in a mathematical, as well as physical, sense.

Source: Author lola0177

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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