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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The Renaissance roughly spanned the period of what centuries?

2. Negative numbers first appeared where historically, according to the author in Chapter 3, “Nothing Ventured”?

3. What refers to a system of tribunals developed by the Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church during the second half of the 16th Century?

4. What term refers to the religious or philosophical concept that the soul is reborn after biological death?

5. Approximately when did Pythagoras live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What theory was developed through Blaise Pascal’s mathematical approach to theology?

2. How does the author describe Islam’s history in the seventh century in Chapter 3, “Nothing Ventured”?

3. What mathematical developments was Pythagoras credited with in ancient Greece?

4. How does the concept of zero relate to the beliefs of Hinduism?

5. How are multiplication and division involving zero described in Chapter 1, “Nothing Doing”?

6. What reason does the author give for why the Greeks and Romans resisted using zero in their mathematical systems in Chapter 1, “Nothing Doing”?

7. What paradox of Zeno of Elea’s is presented by the author in Chapter 2, “Nothing Comes of Nothing”?

8. How does the author assert zero’s existence has been responsible for mathematical progress in Chapter 1, “Nothing Doing”?

9. What is the focus of the book, as established by the author in Chapter 0, “Null and Void”?

10. Where does the author claim zero was “born” in Chapter 1, “Nothing Doing”? How was zero involved in early mathematics?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the development of mathematics within Jewish culture and society, as well as the Jewish relationship with the Aristotelian world view and the work of Maimonides. Why did the Aristotelian viewpoint contradict Jewish belief? How did Maimonides approach this problem?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the biography and the philosophical, artistic, and mathematical contributions of Aristotle. How influential were Aristotle’s ideas in the formation of Western culture? How does the concept of zero impact Aristotle’s view?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the life and work of Zeno of Elea. What philosophical and mathematical discoveries did Zeno make? What is the definition of paradox? What paradox of Zeno’s is discussed in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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