MATHS RELATED GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q1. What are the numerical systems in practice?
Arabic and Roman. Of this, Roman Numerals are selectively and sparingly used nowadays.
Q2. What is the name for the Universally used numerals?
Hindu Arabic.
Q3. What are Roman Numerals and how are they represented?
These numbers are used by ancient Roman about 2000 years ago. They are Represented by 7 English alphabets viz: I V X L C D M (1) (5) (10) (50) (100) (500) (1000)
Q4. How the Roman Numerals function?
There is no (0) Zero in this system. The numbers are represented as 1,5, and multiples of 5 and 10. It works on the following principles:
1. Repeating of a letter repeats its value: Viz: XX makes 20 (10+10)
2. A letter placed after one of the greater value (right) adds there to viz: VI = makes 6 = 5 + 1.
3. A letter placed before another greater value (left) subtracts there from Viz: IV makes 4 = 5-1 (one subtracted from 5).
4. A dash over a number multiplies its value by thousand viz: a dash over X = 10 x 1000 = 10000.
Q5. How the Roman Numerals works?
I=1; II = 2; III = 3; IV = 4 (one subtracted from five); VI = 6 (5+1) VII = 7 (5+1+1); VIII = 8 (5+1+1+1) ; IX = 9 (one subtracted from 10). X = 10; XIX = 19 ; XXVII = 27 and CLII = 152.
Q6. ROMAN NUMBERS = HINDU ARABIC NUMERALS & EXAMPLES:
I = 1; II=2; III=3; IV = 4; V = 5; VI = 6; VII = 7; VIII = 8; IX = 9 & X = 10. XI = 11 XII = 12 XIII = 13 XIV = 14 XV = 15 XVI = 16 XVII = 17 XVIII = 18 XIX = 19 XX = 20 XXX = 30 XL = 40 L = 50 LX = 60 LXX = 70 LXXX=80 XC = 90 C = 100. D = 500 M=1000 CC = 200 CD = 400 DC = 600 CM = 900. [SOME ODD NUMBERS EXAMPLES: CCCLXIX = 369 CDXLVIII = 448 MMDCCLI = 2751. CMII = 902 (try working out some numbers on your own)]
Q7. In our country we call the higher denominations as lakh and crore. How they are called in USA and other European countries?
Q8. What is the origin of Arabic Numerals and how it came to be a Universal System?
These numerals were invented by ancient Hindu Mathematicians and adopted by the Arabs. The Arabic System of numerals was used as early as 5th or 6th century BC . At this time, (0) Zero was not in use. Arabs brought this system to Europe to replace the Roman Numerals around 10th century and then it came to be known as "Arabic Numerals".
Q9. Who invented Zero?
By the Hindus sometime around 876 AD - by Aryabhatta.
Q10. How was zero indicated and how was it called upon its invention?
Indicated by a small circle and was known as "Shunya" in Sanskrit meaning "Vacant or void".
Q11. Who was the first to treat Zero as a number and showed its mathematical operations?
Brahmagupta.
Q12. Who was the first to show that anything divided by zero is infinity and thus Propounded the philosophy of infinity?
Bhaskaracharya.
Q13. Who popularized the Arabic Numeral System?
Leonardo Fibonacci, an Italian popularized the use of Arabic Numerals through his book "Book of the Abacus" written in 1202.
Q14. How did the word "digit" come in to use?
It is a Latin word "Digitus" meaning fingers. Because the counting of numbers through fingers has been the practice from the day the counting began, this word 'digit' continued to be used even now.
Q15. How the "Decimal System" came in to use?
This system is also of Indian Origin as it can be traced in Yajurveda Scriptures (1000 BC).
Q16. Who popularized the Decimal System?
Flemish Mathematician Simon Stevin, through his book "De Thiende" meaning "The Tenth" in 1585 popularized the system.
Q17. Compare the fractional and Decimal System?
Before the introduction of Decimal System, fractional system was in use. In the fractional system Quarter is shown as 1/4 and in Decimal, it is shown as .25.
Q18. Who invented and introduced the "Equal" (=) sign?
Robert Recorde (1510-1558) British (Welsh), in 1557.
Q19. How the Plus (+) and Minus (-) signs came in to use?
These signs have been adopted from the Latin word 'et' meaning 'and'. In the 15th century these signs were used to indicate over weight (+) and underweight (-) in the merchandise boxes.
Q20. Besides Sir Isaac Newton, who independently discovered calculus?
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) of Germany.
Q21. Who invented "Logarithm"?
John Napier - Scotland - 1550-1617.
Q22. Who is believed to be the father of "set theory"?
George Cantor - German Mathematician - 1845 - 1918.
Q23. What is the main work of our ancient mathematician Bhaskaracharya?
"Siddhanta Shiromani" divided into four parts - Lilavati (arithmetics and geometry, Bijaganita(Algebra), Grahaganita and Goladhyaya.
Q24. With whom did Bertrand Russel co author the famous book "Principa Mathematica"?
Alfred North Whithead (1861-1947) British Mathematician.
Q25. Which great mathematician of ancient India wrote the monumental work "Pancha Sidhanthika"?
Varahamihira - 505-587 - The "Pancha Sindhanthika" comprises of the following five Siddhantas - 1. Surya Siddhanta, 2. Romaka Siddhanta, 3. Vasishtha Siddhanta, 4. Paulisa Siddhanta and 5. Paitamaha Siddhanta.
Q26. The numbers "1729" is often associated with the name of an Indian Mathematician. Who was he?
Srinivasa Ramanujan - 1887-1920 - The incident related with this number 1729 outlines the mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan was. G.H.Hardy, a British Mathematician, arrived at Ramanujan's house in UK in a cab with the numbers 1729 and told Ramanujan that it was an uninteresting number. But, Srinivasan replied that it was actually a very interesting number mathematically in that it is the smallest natural number representable in two different ways as a sum of two cubes = 1729 = 13 3 x 123 = 93 x 103 . 1729 is incidentally a "Carmichael Number" ( a composite positive integer which satisfies the congruence).
Q27. "Mathematics is the queen of Science and the theory of numbers is the queen of mathematics". Who made this statement?
Karl Friedrich Gauss - 1777-1855 German Mathematician.
Q28. "Numbers reign the World". Who made this statement?
Pythagoras - 570-495 BC - Greek Philosopher and Mathematician.
Q29. Who found the value of ' pi ' for the first time?
pi = 22/7 by Ptolemy of Alexandria and Indian Astronomer and mathematician Budhyana.
Q30. What is a GOOGOL?
10 to the power of 100.
Q31. Who used the symbols + and - for the first time?
Prof. G.H. Hardy a British Mathematician.
Q32. Where is Ramanujan Institute of Mathematical Science?
Chennai.
Q33. Who founded the Indian Statistical Institute at Kolkatta?
P.C. Mahalanobis.
Q34. Name the first Indian Mathematician elected to the Fellow of the Royal Society of London?
Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Q35. What is the name for the system developed by ancient Egyptians to represent Figures and words?
Heiroglyphics.
Q36. Who opined that "no man can be a perfect poet, unless he has knowledge of Mathematics" ?
John Dryden -1631-1700 British poet.
Q37. Who discovered the first electronic calculating machine?
John V. Atnasof 1903-1995 USA - he is credited with the invention of First Automatic Electronic Digital Computer known as "Atnasof - Berry Computer".
Q38. What is the branch of mathematical study formed after the II World War?
Operation Research.
Q39. Name the mathematician who is known as the "Adam of Mathematics"?
James Joseph Sylvester - 1814-1897 - British Mathematician.
Q40. Name the English Mathematician who identified the mathematical brilliance Of Srinivasa Ramanujan?
G H Hardy 1877-1947.
Q41. Who is known as "Father of Geometry"?
Euclid - 300 BC - Greek mathematician and philosopher.
Q42. Who is considered as the "Euclid of India"?
Bhaskaracharya.
Q43. What was the most ancient instrument used for calculation?
Abacus.
Q44. Who invented the first mechanical calculator - a calculating machine?
Wilhelm Schikard 1592-1635 - German.
Q45. Which mathematician of India is called as "Human Computer"?
Sakunthala Devi - 04.11.1929 -- 21.4.2013 - Karnataka.
Q46. What are Isosceles?
A triangle with two equal sides.
Q47. Whose theorem was solved after 300 years in 1995?
Pierre de Fermat - 1607-1665 - France. His theorem was known as " Fermat's Last Theorem". It was solved after 358 years in 1995 by British mathematicians Andrew Wiles and Richard Taylor in May 1995.
Q48. What is the highest award for Mathematics?
Fields Medal - considered as equal to Nobel - Instituted in 1936 by the International Mathematical Union, carries a prize money of 15000 Canadian Dollars.
Q49. Which Indian astronomer mathematician separated Mathematics and Algebra?
Brahma Gupta - under Vyakaramugan King.
Q50. How many cubic feet are there in a cubic yard?
27
Q51. Who is called the "Prince of Mathematics"?
Karl Friedrich Gauss - German -1777 - 1855.
Q52. What is "Sriyantra"?
A geometrical pattern.
Q53. What is the name for a triangle with different side lengths?
Scalene.
Q54. How many sides are there in an "Icosahedron"?
Twenty.
Q55. What is the name for the number above the line of a vulgar fraction ?
Numerator.
Q56. 90 degree (degree) and 180 degree (degree) are called ......?
Obtuse Angles.
Q57. How many sides are there in a Dodecahedron?
Twelve.
Q58. What is a Prime Number?
A number divisible by itself or by one.
Q59. What is an "Equilateral Triangle"?
A triangle with equal sides.
Q60. What is a Perfect Number?
An integer which is the sum of its proper positive divisions, excluding itself. Eg: 6, 28, 496.
Q61. Who wrote the book "Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra"?
Omar Khayyam - His real name is Ghiyath Al Din Abu'l Fath Umar Ibn Al Nisaburi Al Khayyami.
Q62. What is a Quipu?
In the context of ancient mathematics, it is a calculator consisting of a cord with attached chords for calculation and keeping records, during the Inca Empire.
Q63. What are "Hilberts Problems"?
Mathematical problems proposed by German Mathematician David Hilbert in 1990. Most of them have been solved by now. Problem No.8, 16 and 23 are still to be resolved.
Q64. What are "Millennium Prize Problems"?
Established in 2000 with "seven important classic questions that have resisted Solutions over the years".
Q65. What is a "Forier Analysis"?
A mathematical theory.
Q66. Who is considered as the father of vedic mathematics?
Bharati Krishna Tirtha who also popularized the concept of it.
Q67. Who took Srinivasa Ramanujan to London?
G.H.Hardy.
Q68. How many sides are there in a Hexadecagon?
Sixteen.
Q69. What is the last two digit Prime Number?
97
Q70. What are the "Reflex Angles"?
Angles larger than two right angles but less than a full circle.
Q71. What is the internal angle in a regular heptagon?
128.571 degree.
Q72. What are the books on mathematics by Brahma Gupta?
Brahma Spuda Siddhanta and Karna Kanda Kathyagam.
Q73. Zenzizenzizenzic - What is it?
An obsolete form representing 8th power of a number.
Q74. What is the contribution of Peter Mark Roget of UK (1779-1869) for Mathematics?
Invented the "log log slide rule" which allowed the user to directly perform calculations involving roots and exponents. He is more popularly known for his "Roget's Theassrum".
Q75. Who invented Calculus?
Sir Isaac Newton.
Q76. How is the angle between 181 degree to 360 degree is called?
Reflex Angle.
Q77. A figure enclosed by straight lines are called?
Polygon.
Q78. What are the various Polygons and their names?
Triangle - 3; Square - 4; Pentagon - 5; Hexagon - 6; Heptagon - 7; Octagon - 8; Nonagon - 9; Decagon - 10; Undecagon - 11; Dedecagon - 12.
Q79. What does "percentage" literally mean?
For each hundred.
Q80. How many sides two dodecahedrons have between them?
24
Q81. How many sides are there in two regular icosahedrons?
Forty.
Q82. Which number represents the value 'pi'?
3.14
Q83. What is "scientific notation" in mathematics and how does it helps?
It is a way of writing easily, large or small numbers, in a simple manner without altering its value. For instance 1000 can written as 10to the power of three -- meaning 10 x 10 x10.
Q84. What is a polyhedron and mention a few of them?
Solid shapes that has polygons as faces. Tetrahedron - solid shape that has four equal triangles. Cube: have six equal square faces and every angle will be a right angle. Octahedron: with eight triangles with all in right angles. Dodecahedron: Solid with 12 regular faces.
Q85. What is the meaning of 'pi', who coined it and who popularized it?
It is derived from the Greek word for perimeter. It was coined by William Jones in 1707 and popularized by Leonhard Enler in 1737.
Q86. How is 'pi' also called?
Circular constant, Archimedes Constant and Ludolph's Number.
Q87. Which mathematician wrote "Liber Abaci" which introduces to the west, "modus Indoram" - method of Indians, today known as Arabic Numerals?
Fibonacci.
Q88. What are Napier Bones?
Calculating Apparatus.
Q89. What are the seven basic scientific units?
Length, Mass, Time, Electric Current, Temperature, Light and Amount of Substance.
Q90. Give a table giving largest to smallest numbers value, their names, power, Symbols and prefix?
Q91. Units of Measurement:
MEASURES AND WEIGHTS
Q92. Square Measure:
(144 Square inches = 1 Square Feet), (9 Square feet = 1 Square Yard), (30.25 Square Yard = 1 Square Rod), (40 Square Rod = 1 Square Rood), (4 Roods = 1 Square Mile).
Q93. Cubic Measure:
(1728 Cubic inches = 1 Cubic feet), (27 Cubic Feet = 1 Cubic Yard), (128 Cubic Feet = 1 Cord), (40 Cubic Feet = 1 Ton (shipping).
Q94. Liquid Measure:
(4 Gills = 1 Pint), (2 Pints = 1 Quart), (4 Quarts = 1 Gallon), (31.5 Gallon = 1 Barrel), (2 Barrel = 1 Hoghead).
Q95. Long Measure:
(12 inches = 1 Foot), (3 Feet = 1 Yard), (5.5 Yard = 1 Rod), (40 Rods = 1 Furlong), (8 Furlong = 1 Mile), (3 Miles = 1 League)
Q96. Mariner Measure:
(6 feet = 1 Fathom), (1 Fathom = 1 Cable Length), (7.5 Cable Length = 1 Mile), (5280.2 Feet = 1 Statute Mile), (6080.2 Feet = 1 Nautical Mile).
Q97. Surveyor Measure:
(7.92 inches = 1 Link), (25 Links = 1 Rod), (4 Rods = 1 Chain), (10 Sq.chain/160 Sq.Rods = 1 Acre), (640 Acres = 1 Sq. Mile), (36 Sq.Miles/6 Miles Sq. = 1 Township).
Q98. Angular Measure:
(60 seconds = 1 minute), (60 minutes = 1 Degree), (30 Degrees = 1 Sign 90 Degrees = 1 Quadrant), (4 Quadrant/360 Degrees = One Circumference).
Q99. Long Measure:
(10 milli metre = 1 centimetre), (100 centimetre = 1 metre), (1000 metre = 1 kilometre).
Q100. Seven Basic Units of Metric System
Q101. COMMON DERIVED UNITS:
1.Area-Square Metre-m2;
2. Volume-Cubic Metre-m3;
3. Density-Kilogram per Cubic Metre-Kg/m3
4 Speed-Distance per unit time (s) -m/s
5. Acceleration-Speed changed per unit of time-m/s2
6. Force-Mass Times Acceleration of Object-Kg m/s2
7. Pressure-Force per unit area-Kg m2/s2
8. Energy-Force times distance traveled-Kg m2/s2
Q102. STANDARD/METRIC CONVERSIONS:
Inch X 25.4 = millimeter;
Foot X .3048 = metre;
Yard X .9144 = metre;
Mile X 1.6093 = kilometer;
Acre X .4047 = hectare;
Quart X .9463 = litre;
Gallon X .004 = cubic metre;
Ounce X 28.3495 = gram;
Pound X .4536 = kilogram;
Degrees - Farenheit X 5/9 - 32 = degrees - celcius;
Millimeter X .0394 = inch;
Metre X 3.2808 = foot; Metre X 1.0936 = yard;
Kilometere X .6214 = mile;
Hectare X 2.4710 = acre;
Cubic metre X 284.2 = gallon; Gram * .0353 = ounce;
Kilogram X 2.2046 = pound;
Degrees Celcius X 9/5 + 32 = Degrees Farenheit
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q103. Who devised the Metric System?
French Academy of Sciences, introduced the Metric System. A decimal system in which different units for a physical quantity are related by powers of ten.
Q104. How did the word 'acre' came in to use?
A Latin word meaning ' field '. It was used initially for the amount of land a pair of oxen could plough in a day.
Q105. When was Metric System introduced in India?
Weights and Measures from 1.10.1958 and the decimal coinage system from April 1957.
Q106. The conversion to Metrication, simultaneously out lawing the pre metrication weights and measures in India was known as ......?
Big Bang Route.
Q107. Which organization in India is entrusted with maintaining the SI Units?
National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi.
Q108. What does SI stand for in the term SI Unit of Measurement?
' System International ' / ' International System of Units ' abbreviated as SI. Adopted in all languages internationally, as agreed upon in the General Conference on weights and Measurements held in October 1960 in Paris.
Q109. What is Troy in weights and measures?
A measurement used for weighing precious metals, gemstones and black powder. Named after Troye in France.
Q110. Which one, Farenheit or Celcius came into use first?
Farenheit.
Q111. What is the equivalence of 0 degree C and 100 degreeC in Farenheit?
32 degree F and 212 degree F respectively.
Q112. What unit of weight gets its name from the Latin word for "one twelfth part"?
Ounce.
Q113. How many square metres are there in a hectare?
10000
Q114. How much is a Metric Ton?
1000 Kgs.
Q115. How much is an American Ton?
907.2 Kgs.
Q116. What is a Furlong?
One eighth of a mile.
Q117. What is a Centipede?
100 feet.
Q118. What is a Millipede?
1000 feet.
Q119. What is the SI Unit of electric Current?
Amp=Ampere. Named after A.M.Ampere, France.
Q120. What is the SI Unit of wavelength of light?
Angstrom. Named after A.J.Angstrom, Sweden.
Q121. What is the SI Unit of Atmospheric Pressure?
Bar.
Q122. What is the SI Unit of sound intensity?
Decibel (dB)
Q123. What is the SI unit of Radio activity?
Bel Querel.
Q124. What is the SI Unit of Quantity of heat?
Calorie
Q125. What is the SI Unit of Precious Stones?
Carat.
Q126. What is the SI Unit of Luminous intensity?
Candela.
Q127. What is the SI Unit of Illuminating power of source of light?
Candle Power.
Q128. What is the SI Unit of Temperature?
Celcius (c) Also called centigrade. Kelvin (K) (Sir Wilham Thomson Lord Kelvin)
Q129. What is the SI Unit of Electric Charge?
Couloumb (C.A.de Couloumb of France)
Q130. What is the SI Unit of Force?
Dyne.
Q131. What is the SI Unit of Energy?
Electron Volt.
Q132. What is the SI Unit of Work?
Erg.
Q133. What is the SI Unit of Brightness?
Foot Candle.
Q134. What is the SI Unit of Electric Capacittance?
Farad.
Q135. What is the SI Unit of Electric Charge ?
Faraday.
Q136. What is the SI Unit of Magnetic Induction/Magnetic Flux Intensity?
Gauss
Q137. What is the SI Unit of Area (100m X 100m)?
Hectare.
Q138. What is the SI Unit of Inductance?
Henry (Jospeh Henry).
Q139. What is the SI Unit of Frequency?
Hertz (Hz) (Heinrich Hertz)
Q140. What is the SI Unit of power?
Horse Power (Hp)
Q141. What is the SI Unit of Work Energy?
Joule (J.P.Joule)
Q142. What is the SI Unit of Speed of Ships and Aircrafts?
Knot.
Q143. What is the SI Unit of Brightness?
Lambert
Q144. What is the SI Unit of Luminous Flux?
Lumen.
Q145. What is the SI Unit of Magnetic Flux?
Maxwell. Also Weber.
Q146. What is the SI Unit of moment (torque)?
Newton Metre.
Q147. What is the SI Unit of Magnetic Intensity?
Oersted.
Q148. What is the SI Unit of Electrical Resistance?
Ohm (George Simon Ohm)
Q149. What is the SI Unit of Pressure?
Pascal (Blaise Pascal)
Q150. What is the SI Unit of Viscosity?
Poise ( Poisville - France)
Q151. What is the SI Unit of Electrical Potential?
Volt (Alessandro volta - Italy)
Q152. What is the SI Unit of Electrical Power?
Watt. (James watt).
Q153. What is the SI Unit of measurement of distance of Stars and Galaxies in Astronomy?
Parsec.
Q154. How many litres does the standard oil barrel contain?
158.9873 litres.
Q155. What is Avoirdupois?
A weight system. An English and American system of weights based on a Pound of 16 ounces.
Q156. To convert inches to millimeters....?
Multiply the inches by 25.4
Q157. To convert inches to Centimetres?
Multiply the inches by 2.54.
Q158. To convert feet to metres.....?
Multiply the feet by 0.305
Q159. To convert miles to kilometers?
Multiply the miles by 1.609.
Q160. To convert millimeters to inches?
Multiply the millimeters by 0.039.
Q161. To convert centimeters to inches?
Multiply the centimeters by 0.394.
Q162. To convert metres to feet....?
Multiply the metres by 3.281
Q163. To convert metres to yards?
Multiply the metres by 1.094.
Q164. To convert kilometers to miles....?
Multiply the kilometers by 0.621.
Q165. To convert square inches to square cms?
Multiply the square inches by 6.452.
Q166. To convert square feet to square meter....?
Multiply the square feet by 0.093.
Q167. To convert square yards to square metres?
Multiply the square yeards by 0.836.
Q168. To convert acres to hectares.....?
Multiply the acre by 0.405.
Q169. To convert square cms to square inches .....?
Multiply the square cms by 0.155.
Q170. To convert square metres to suare feet....?
Multiply the square meters by 10.764.
Q171. To convert square metres to square yards.....?
Multiply square meteres by 1.196.
Q172. To convert hectares to acres....?
Multiply the hectares by 2.471.
Q173. To convert cubic inches to cubic centimeters?
Multiply cubic inches by 16.387.
Q174. To convert cubic feet to cubic metres.....?
Multiply the cubic feet by 0.028.
Q175. To convert cubic yards to cubic meters....?
Multiply the cubic yard by 0.765.
Q176. To convert cubic cms to cubic inches .....?
Multiply the cubic centimeters by 0.061.
Q177. To convert cubic meters to cubic feet?
Multiply the cubic meters by 35.315.
Q178. To convert cubic meters to cubic yards....?
Multiply the cubic meters by 1.308.
Q179. To convert fluid ounces to liters....?
Multiply the fluid ounces by 0.03.
Q180. To convert Quarts to liters.....?
Multiply the quarts by 0.946.
Q181. To convert gallons to liters.....?
Multiply the gallons by 3.785.
Q182. To convert Imperial gallons to liters....?
Multiply the Imperial gallons by 4.546.
Q183. To convert liters to fluid ounces....?
Multiply liters by 33.814.
Q184. To convert liters to Quarts....?
Multiply liters by 1.057.
Q185. To convert liters to imperial gallons.....?
Multiply liters by 0.220.
Q186. To convert ounces avoirdupois to Grams.....?
Multiply ounces avoirdupois by 28.35.
Q187. To convert pounds avoirdupois to Kilograms.....?
Multiply pounds avoirdupois by 0.454.
Q188. To convert tons to metric tons.....?
Multiply tons by 0.907.
Q189. To convert grams to ounces avoirdupois....?
Multiply grams by 0.035.
Q190. To convert kilograms to pounds avoirdupois.....?
Multiply kilograms by 2.205.
Q191. To convert metric tons to tons.....?
Multiply Metric tons by 1.102.
Q192. To convert celcius to farenheit.....?
Subtract 32 from farenheit and divide it by 1.8.
Q193. To convert farenheit to celcius.....?
Multiply celcius by 1.8 and add 32.
Q194. How many square feet makes up an acre?
43560 Sq.ft.
