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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 3.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What 12 Century rabbi sought to reconcile Greek philosophy with the Semitic Bible?
(a) Robert Wexler.
(b) Nahmanides.
(c) Shlomo ben Aderet.
(d) Maimonides.

2. What branch of mathematics are the ancient Egyptians credited with creating in order to successfully build objects to block the flooding of the Nile River each year?
(a) Quantum mechanics.
(b) Projective physics.
(c) Algebra.
(d) Geometry.

3. According to the author in Chapter 2, “Nothing Comes of Nothing,” the Pythagorean view tied numbers to what?
(a) Gods.
(b) Words.
(c) Shapes.
(d) Chakras.

4. The ancient Babylonians had a number system based on what increment?
(a) 60.
(b) 5.
(c) 20.
(d) 10.

5. Negative numbers first appeared where historically, according to the author in Chapter 3, “Nothing Ventured”?
(a) India and China.
(b) In Mayan and Native American cultures.
(c) Egypt and Babylonia.
(d) Europe and the Americas.

Short Answer Questions

1. Approximately when did Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Khwarizmi live?

2. What does the author refer to as “zero’s twin” in the book?

3. What was the fifth element that Aristotle proposed, in addition to earth, water, fire, and air?

4. The author states in Chapter 3, “Nothing Ventured” that for the Indians, numerals without geometric significance gave birth to what field of mathematics?

5. In September of 1997, a crewmember entered a zero into the database field on the computers of the USS Yorktown, leading to what type of error?

(see the answer key)

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