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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. How much of Ramanujan's work did Hardy believe was sound and original?

2. How does Kanigel describe Ramanujan's dress?

3. How did Ramanujan see himself socially, according to Kanigel?

4. How did Ramanujan respond to Hardy's request for proofs?

5. What did Littlewood and Hardy see as mathematically important?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where did Ramanujan go when he reached England?

2. What was the conflict between Ramanujan's family and his wife?

3. What was Ramanujan's relationship with Cambridge after he left for India?

4. What is a formalist in mathematical thinking?

5. Describe Ramanujan's trip to England.

6. What was Ramanujan's decline like, and death?

7. What did Hardy do with Ramanujan's letter?

8. What was Ramanujan's interest in pi?

9. What cultural practices did Ramanujan hold on to from India?

10. Describe Ramanujan and Hardy's work on partitions.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the intersection the British culture of secret society and prestige with Ramanujan's culture of Brahmin prestige and privilege. How much did these cultures clash in Ramanujan's experience? How did they work together?

Essay Topic 2

In what ways is Ramanujan a product of India? What is it about India that is evident in Ramanujan's character? In what ways is Ramanujan British? In what ways is he not? Is he an international citizen in the universe of math?

Essay Topic 3

What problems did Ramanujan have because of his schooling, and how did he overcome them? (i.e. what techniques did he use, and how successful was he?)

(see the answer keys)

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