Math Wizards

Results for Math's Greatest Minds 1. Which mathematician proved the famous formula e^(i*pi) + 1 = 0? Your Answer: Blaise Pascal The correct answer was Leonhard

Euler.

"Euler's Identity" is one of the most famous formulas in the world of mathematics, as it ties together the five most important constants: 0, 1, pi, and the imaginary i. 51% of players have answered correctly.

2. Which mathematician had worked with number theory and claimed to have found that x^n + y^n = z^n has no positive integer solutions if n is greater than 2? Your Answer: Pierre de Fermat

Fermat's theory came to be known as "Fermat's Last Theorem". During Fermat's life, no one had proven it, but Fermat did write: "I have discovered a truly remarkable proof which this margin is too small to contain." In the past decades, however, Andrew Wiles had proven the theorem. 51% of players have answered correctly.

3. Which mathematician had published "The Elements", and has influenced the study of geometry for around 2000 years? Your Answer: Euclid

In his book, "The Element", Euclid of Alexandria gave five postulates that set the basis for Euclidian geometry. However, it was only by the 19th century that Euclid's last postulate was proven to be false, giving the way for nonEuclidian geometry. 59% of players have answered correctly.

4. Which mathematician had developed the "method of indivisibles" and published "Geometria Indivisibilis"?

Your Answer: Marin Mersenne The correct answer was Bonaventura

Cavalieri.

Cavalieri's "method of indivisibles" states that a geometric plane contains infinitesimally small rectangles, which would allow Cavalieri to find the area of a shape quickly. The book's full name is "Geometria Indivisibilibus Continuorum Nova Quadam Ratione Promota", and was harshly criticized because mathematicians believed Cavalieri's method was absurd. 34% of players have answered correctly.

5. Which mathematician had studied the involute of a circle, and used this knowledge to patent the first pendulum clock? Your Answer: René Descartes The correct answer was Christiaan

Huygens.

Huygens' work with clocks greatly improved the accuracy of clocks. He also discovered the true shape of the rings of Saturn. Huygens eventually isolated himself in Holland, and continued to study outer space and had even proposed the existence of extraterrestrial beings. 52% of players have answered correctly.

6. Which mathematician, at the age of 18, had found that "the number of primes less than or equal to n tends to infinity as n/(log_e n)", which is an elementary form proof of the Prime Number Theorem? Your Answer: Paul Erdos

"The Prime Number Theorem" was first proposed by Bertrand in the 1700s, but had not been proved until the 1800s. Erdös' solution is a more elegant form of a proof, thus he has become famous within association with the theorem. Interestingly enough, this mathematician had an FBI record against him, due to unknowingly trespassing while talking to other mathematicians about math. 22% of players have answered correctly.

7. Which mathematician had studied binomial coefficients, published a book on it, and had a "triangle" named after him? Your Answer: Blaise Pascal

Although Pascal was not the first to study "Pascal's Triangle", this was his most famous work. His studies later helped Sir Isaac Newton discover the binomial theorem. 62% of players have answered correctly.

8. Which mathematician is remembered for his theorem (cos x + i sin x)^n = (cos nx + i sin nx)? Your Answer: Leonhard Euler The correct answer was Abraham

de Moivre.

(cos x + i sin x) can also be abbreviated to cis x. De Moivre's theorem opened the way for a greater study of complex numbers. Despite his successes in trigonometry and complex numbers, he died in poverty. 39% of players have answered correctly.

9. Which mathematician was the first to factor out (2^67 1) using quadratic remainders? Your Answer: François Edouard Anatole Lucas The correct answer was Frank

Nelson Cole.

By factoring out that number, Cole was able to disprove Mersenne's perfect number expression: 2^p - 1. It was at a mathematical convention that Cole took his time in multiplying out the factors by hand in order to prove Mersenne wrong. 27% of players have answered correctly.

10. Which mathematician's most famous work is a formula that can be used to find the area of a triangle with just the lengths of the sides? Your Answer: Pythagoras

The correct answer was Heron.

Heron's formula is A^2 = s*(s - a)*(s - b)*(s - c). s is just the sum of the sides' lengths over divided by two. 18% of players have answered correctly.