1. 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) Geometry.
(b) Algebra.
(c) Quantum mechanics.
(d) Projective physics.

2. What term refers to the worship of multiple deities?
(a) Atertheism.
(b) Monotheism.
(c) Omnitheism.
(d) Polytheism.

3. The Italian word “zefiro,” meaning “west wind” derived from what Latin and Greek word?
(a) Sifr.
(b) Zebra.
(c) Zyloph.
(d) Zephyrus.

4. When the Indians adopted a Babylonian style number system, its base was what, according to the author in Chapter 3, “Nothing Ventured”?
(a) 10.
(b) 60.
(c) 20.
(d) 5.

5. Who founded the House of Wisdom that was established in Abbasid-era Baghdad, Iraq?
(a) Sahl ibn Harun.
(b) Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī.
(c) Hunayn ibn Ishaq.
(d) Caliph Harun al-Rashid.

Short Answer Questions

1. The author states in Chapter 2, “Nothing Comes of Nothing” that the concepts of infinity and the void frightened the ancient Greeks. They feared the infinite because it threatened the possibility of what?

2. The ancient Mayans used a numeral system that was based on what increment?

3. The ancient Babylonians are credited with the creation of what calculation tool?

4. Approximately when did Pythagoras live?

5. What 12 Century rabbi sought to reconcile Greek philosophy with the Semitic Bible?

(see the answer key)

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