Mathematics · General Awareness
Mathematics Research and Institutions
1,959 Questions
Test your general knowledge regarding the historical and administrative aspects of mathematics. This includes questions on professional mathematical societies, academic journals, and global research conferences. These topics occasionally appear in general awareness and current affairs sections.
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Mathematics Research and Institutions Questions
What is the name of the mathematical operation that is the inverse of multiplication?
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Division
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Subtraction
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Addition
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Exponentiation
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Logarithm
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Division is the mathematical operation that is the inverse of multiplication. When you multiply two numbers, you are combining them to get a product. When you divide one number by another, you are finding out how many times the second number goes into the first number.
What is the name of the mathematical operation that is the inverse of taking the cube root?
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Cubing
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Taking the fourth root
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Taking the fifth root
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Taking the sixth root
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Taking the seventh root
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Cubing is the mathematical operation that is the inverse of taking the cube root. When you take the cube root of a number, you are finding out what number you need to multiply by itself three times to get the given number. When you cube a number, you are multiplying it by itself three times.
Which mathematical conference was marred by a scandal involving the theft of a valuable manuscript?
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International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM)
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Fields Medal Symposium
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Abel Prize Ceremony
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Nevanlinna Prize Ceremony
A
Correct answer
Explanation
In 2014, the ICM in Seoul, South Korea, was overshadowed by the theft of a valuable manuscript from the library of Seoul National University. The manuscript, dating back to the 15th century, contained mathematical works by the Korean mathematician Yi Sang-hwa.
What was the name of the mathematician who was accused of plagiarism at the 2010 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM)?
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Grigori Perelman
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Michael Atiyah
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Shing-Tung Yau
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Andrew Wiles
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Grigori Perelman, the Russian mathematician who famously proved the Poincaré conjecture, was accused of plagiarism at the 2010 ICM in Hyderabad, India. The accusations were eventually dropped, but they cast a shadow over the conference.
Which mathematical conference was disrupted by a group of protesters in 2018?
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Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM)
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European Mathematical Society (EMS) Congress
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African Mathematical Union (AMU) Conference
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Asia-Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO)
A
Correct answer
Explanation
In 2018, the JMM in San Diego, California, was disrupted by a group of protesters who were demonstrating against the Trump administration's immigration policies. The protesters briefly blocked the entrance to the conference center, and they also held a rally outside the building.
Which mathematical conference was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
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International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM)
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Fields Medal Symposium
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Abel Prize Ceremony
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Nevanlinna Prize Ceremony
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The 2020 ICM, which was scheduled to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time that the ICM had been canceled since its inception in 1897.
What was the name of the mathematician who was accused of sexual harassment at the 2019 Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM)?
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Michael Atiyah
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Shing-Tung Yau
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Andrew Wiles
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Simon Donaldson
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Simon Donaldson, a British mathematician, was accused of sexual harassment at the 2019 JMM in Baltimore, Maryland. The accusations were investigated by the American Mathematical Society (AMS), and Donaldson was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.
Which mathematical conference was disrupted by a power outage in 2017?
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European Mathematical Society (EMS) Congress
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African Mathematical Union (AMU) Conference
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Asia-Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO)
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International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
A
Correct answer
Explanation
In 2017, the EMS Congress in Budapest, Hungary, was disrupted by a power outage. The outage lasted for several hours, and it forced the cancellation of several sessions. The conference was eventually able to resume, but the disruption caused a great deal of inconvenience for the attendees.
Which mathematical conference was marred by a dispute over the awarding of the Fields Medal in 2014?
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International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM)
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Fields Medal Symposium
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Abel Prize Ceremony
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Nevanlinna Prize Ceremony
B
Correct answer
Explanation
In 2014, the Fields Medal Symposium in Seoul, South Korea, was marred by a dispute over the awarding of the Fields Medal to Artur Avila. Some mathematicians felt that Avila's work was not as significant as that of other candidates, and they protested the decision to award him the medal.
What was the name of the mathematician who was accused of fabricating data in a paper that was presented at the 2013 Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM)?
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Grigori Perelman
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Michael Atiyah
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Shing-Tung Yau
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Andrew Wiles
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Michael Atiyah, a British mathematician, was accused of fabricating data in a paper that was presented at the 2013 JMM in San Diego, California. The paper, which was co-authored by Atiyah and several other mathematicians, was eventually retracted from the journal in which it was published.
Which mathematical conference was disrupted by a fire in 2012?
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European Mathematical Society (EMS) Congress
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African Mathematical Union (AMU) Conference
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Asia-Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO)
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International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
A
Correct answer
Explanation
In 2012, the EMS Congress in Krakow, Poland, was disrupted by a fire. The fire broke out in the conference center, and it forced the evacuation of the building. The conference was eventually able to resume, but the disruption caused a great deal of inconvenience for the attendees.
Which mathematical conference was canceled in 2010 due to the Icelandic volcano eruption?
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International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM)
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Fields Medal Symposium
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Abel Prize Ceremony
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Nevanlinna Prize Ceremony
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The 2010 ICM, which was scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, India, was canceled due to the Icelandic volcano eruption. The eruption caused widespread travel disruptions, and it made it impossible for many mathematicians to attend the conference.
What was the name of the mathematician who was accused of sexual harassment at the 2009 Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM)?
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Grigori Perelman
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Michael Atiyah
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Shing-Tung Yau
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Andrew Wiles
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Andrew Wiles, a British mathematician, was accused of sexual harassment at the 2009 JMM in Washington, D.C. The accusations were investigated by the AMS, and Wiles was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.
Which mathematical conference was disrupted by a protest in 2008?
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European Mathematical Society (EMS) Congress
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African Mathematical Union (AMU) Conference
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Asia-Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO)
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International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
A
Correct answer
Explanation
In 2008, the EMS Congress in Amsterdam, Netherlands, was disrupted by a protest. The protest was organized by a group of mathematicians who were opposed to the use of animals in mathematical research. The protest caused a great deal of disruption, and it forced the cancellation of several sessions.
Which mathematical society is known for its focus on promoting the use of mathematics in industry and business?
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American Mathematical Society (AMS)
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Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
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Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
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Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS)
B
Correct answer
Explanation
SIAM is renowned for its commitment to fostering collaboration between mathematicians and industry professionals, advancing the application of mathematics in various fields.