Questions about Numbers
by James R. Smart
Mathematics Teacher
November 1979
Quiz
Sometimes we assume that systems of numbers are the eclusive property of mathematics teachers
and that no one else uses them. Actually,
many of the everyday uses of numbers may be as
unclear to a mathematics teacher as they are to the average person. The quiz below will
check
your knowledge of some ises of numbers in the real world.
Scoring: Count 5 points for each question. You may give partial credit.
80 - 100: You lead a well-rounded, though not necessarily wholesome, existence.
60 - 79: You could profit from reading other material in addition to mathematics texts.
40 - 59: You have been too involved with homework papers. Start living.
Below 40: You should not venture into the real world after school.
1. Bicycle sizes are given in inches. What does it mean to say a bicycle is a 26-inch bicycle?
2. A number 3 pencil contains more of what common substance mixed with the graphite in the lead than does a number 2
pencil?
3. In printing, the height of type is ordinarily given in points. How high is 24-pt. type in inches?
4. Golf clubs are named by using numbers and material, such as number 3 wood or number 5 iron. As the numbers increase,
does the loft increase or decrease?
5. Chemical elements are identified by their atomic number, which does not change for various isotopes.
For example, the atomic number of copper is 29. What does the atomic number indicate?
6. In the manufacture of whiskry, numbers are used to indicate the proof. Specifically, what does 80 proof mean?
7. In textbooks, ordinarily on the page with the copyright information, there often appears a sequence
of numerals beginning with 10.
What would the sequence 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 indicate?
8. Geologists break the earth's history into eras, periods, and epochs, not of uniform length. Which of the divisions
of time is about 50 million years?
9. A metronome is often used to help piano students. What does a metronome setting of 120 mean?
10. On most sophisticated cameras the lens opening, or aperture, is indicated by a set of numbers called f-numbers.
If the set of f-numbers is 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, and if your camera is set at f/8, what should be the new setting
if you want to let in twice as much light?
11. What do the numbers 20 - 30 mean as a result of a vision test?
12. Lawn fertilizer is often described by using three numbers such as 25-10-5. What does the first number indicate?
13. The size of a juice or vegetable can is given by numbers such as 1, 2, or 3. A number-2 can contains how many cups?
14. Automobile tire sizes often are given by a letter and a set of numbers, such as H 70-15. The number 15
means the tire fits a wheel of 15 inches in diameter. What does the number 70 indicate? (Some tires now have
metric sizes, such as 165 13. The 165 is the cross section in milliliters, but the 13 is still in inches)
15. One of the numbers used in a weather report gives the dew point. What does it mean to say the dew point is 36 degrees?
16. What does a gasoline octane rating of 93 mean?
17. The location for receiving a particular station on a radio dial is indicated by a number, such as 1140 on the dial.
What does the number represent?
18. One of the numerals found on a package of light bulbs indicates lumens. How many watts (40, 60, 75, 100, or 150)
are needed to yield an output of 860 lumens?
19. Several numerals appear on the face of paper money, such as the serial number and the denomination.
In addition, a numeral, such as 2, 7, or 12 appears four times, once in each quadrant of the face.
What does the number indicate?
20. How long is an eightpenny nail in inches?