Q 01/05

Which papyrus, bought in Luxor in 1858 by a Scottish antiquarian, is a key source on ancient Egyptian mathematics?

A) The Ebers Papyrus

B) The Rhind Papyrus

C) The Westcar Papyrus

D) The Edwin Smith Papyrus

Answer · why

B) The Rhind Papyrus

The Rhind Papyrus is named for Alexander Rhind, who went to Egypt because of lung disease and excavated tombs around Thebes.

Q 02/05

Which civilisation made Plimpton 322, a c.1800 BC tablet listing Pythagorean triples?

A) Egyptian

B) Babylonian

C) Hittite

D) Minoan

Answer · why

B) Babylonian

Babylonian scribes listed triples far too large to find by trial and error, which suggests a systematic method over a thousand years before Pythagoras...

Q 03/05

The Ishango bone, a possible 20,000-year-old tally stick, was found in which modern country?

A) Republic of South Africa

B) United Republic of Tanzania

C) Democratic Republic of the Congo

D) Central African Republic

Answer · why

C) Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo was then the Belgian Congo, so the bone's Belgian finder took it to Brussels.

Q 04/05

Which Greek philosopher argued that swift Achilles could never overtake a tortoise given a head start?

A) Heraclitus

B) Zeno of Elea

C) Democritus

D) Empedocles

Answer · why

B) Zeno of Elea

Zeno of Elea is thought to have built the paradox to defend his teacher Parmenides, who held that change is impossible and motion an illusion.

Q 05/05

Pythagoras is said to have banned his followers from eating which food?

A) Dried figs

B) Fava beans

C) Wild honey

D) Green olives

Answer · why

B) Fava beans

Fava beans were so taboo that, in one legend, Pythagoras let his pursuers catch and kill him rather than run through a bean field.