"Our History: Thomas Fuller"
Thomas Fuller was given the nickname “The Virginia Calculator” primarily because he:
A) Invented the first mechanical calculator in America
B) Performed complex mental arithmetic without formal schooling
C) Published mathematical textbooks
D) Taught mathematics at a colonial university
What is...
B) Performed complex mental arithmetic without formal schooling
Explanation:
Fuller had no formal education and could not read or write, yet he performed complex calculations mentally with extraordinary speed and accuracy. His ability challenged stereotypes about intellectual capacity during slavery
Which of these statements is true of the number 17?
a) It is a factor of 17
b) It is a multiple of 17
c) It is prime
d) All of the above are true
What is...
d) All of the above are true
Evaluate 2y + 3y - y when y = 2.
(1 Min)
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
What is...
b) 8
A triangle has a base of 5 units, and a height of 2.8 units. What is the area of the triangle?
a) 15 square units
b) 7 square units
c) 14 square units
d) 40 square units
What is...
b) 7 square units
What would be the formula to find the perimeter of a triangle?
a) p = 2 / bh
b) p = bh / 2
c) p = side 1 + side 2 + side 3
d) p = side 1 + side 2 + side 3 + side 4
What is...
c. p = side 1 + side 2 + side 3
Thomas Fuller’s story is often compared to other self-taught intellectuals during slavery because:
A) Most enslaved people were formally educated
B) Literacy was commonly encouraged
C) Intellectual development occurred despite systemic barriers
D) Mathematical competitions were common
What is...
C) Intellectual development occurred despite systemic barriers
Explanation:
Enslaved individuals were typically denied education. Fuller’s abilities demonstrate intellectual growth and resilience despite systemic barriers.
Calculate: 2 3/4 ÷ 11/4 = ?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
What is...
a) 1
Translate the following: "Four times a number n is equal to the difference between that number and 10"
a) 4n = 10 - n
b) 4 + n = 10*n
c) 4/n = n + 10
d) n - 4 = 10n
What is...
a) 4n = 10 - n
What is the area of a square that has a base of 14 units?
a) 28 units squared
b) 28 units
c) 196 units squared
d) 196 units
c) 196 units squared
What is the perimeter of a square with a side length of 14 inches?
a) 196 inches
b) 56 inches
c) 145 inches
d) 14 inches
What is...
b) 56 inches
Fuller’s intellectual achievements were recorded by white observers. Why is this historically significant?
A) It shows that even slaveholders acknowledged his genius
B) It suggests his story is fictional
C) It proves he was freed immediately
D) It indicates he received equal status
What is...
A) It shows that even slaveholders acknowledged his genius
Explanation:
The documentation by white observers is important because it shows that even within a system built on oppression, his genius was undeniable and publicly recognized.
What is the prime factorization of 110?
a) 10 x 11
b) 110 x 1
c) 55 x 2
d) 2 x 5 x 11
What is...
d) 2 x 5 x 11
For which value of x does 6x + 12 evaluate to 54?
a. x = 12
b. x = 9
c. x = 7
d. x = 6
What is...
c. x = 7
A triangle has an area of 400 square feet, with a base of 20 feet. What is the vertical height of the triangle?
(A = 1/2 bh)
a. height = 35 feet
b. height = 25 feet
c. height = 20 feet
d. height = 30 feet
What is...
c. height = 20 feet
A rhombus is a quadrilateral with four equal sides.
Perimeter Formula: P=4s
(where s is the length of one side)
A rhombus has a side length of 9 cm.
What is the perimeter?
A) 18 cm
B) 27 cm
C) 36 cm
D) 81 cm
What is...
C) 36 cm
Explanation:
A rhombus has 4 equal sides.
P=4×9=36
Why was Thomas Fuller’s mathematical ability considered socially disruptive in colonial America?
A) It proved enslaved Africans had access to advanced schools
B) It contradicted racist beliefs about intellectual inferiority
C) It reduced the need for plantation accounting books
D) It threatened the political power of Northern merchants
What is...
B) It contradicted racist beliefs about intellectual inferiority
Explanation:
At the time, many slaveholders justified slavery using false claims of African intellectual inferiority. Fuller’s abilities directly contradicted those racist ideologies, making his skills socially and politically disruptive.
Which of the following numbers will make both inequalities true?
-12 < x |x| < 4
a. x = -15
b. x = -1
c. x = -7
d. x = -4
What is...
c) x = -7
Calculate the base of the triangle that has a height of 6.7 cm and an area of 54 cm squared.
What is the base of the triangle?
a. base = 16.07 cm
b. base = 3.36 cm
c. base = 54 cm
d. base = 6.7 cm
What is...
a. base = 16.07 cm
What is the perimeter of a rectangle that has the length of 8 meters and the width of 6 meters?
a) 20 meters
b) 48 meters
c) 28 meters
d) 84 meters
What is...
c) 28 meters
When asked how many seconds a man had lived if he were 70 years, 17 days, and 12 hours old, Fuller quickly responded with a correct calculation (including leap years).
This demonstrates his mastery of:
A) Estimation only
B) Basic multiplication facts
C) Multi-step time conversions and large-number operations
D) Geometry and measurement
What is...
C) Multi-step time conversions and large-number operations
Explanation:
This task required converting years to days, accounting for leap years, converting to hours, minutes, and seconds — a multi-step, complex arithmetic process done mentally.
Larissa has 4 1/2 cups of flour. She is making cookies using a recipe that calls for 2 3/4 cups of flour. After baking the cookies how much flour will be left?
a) 2 3/4 cups
b) 2 1/4 cups
c) 2 3/8 cups
d) 1 3/4 cups
What is...
d) 1 3/4 cups
For which of the following values of "b" does the expression 4b - 9 have a value between 90 and 100? (3 mins)
a. (b = 104)
b. (b = 26)
c. (b = 48)
d. (b = 24)
What is...
a. (b = 104)
A shaded square has a length of 6 inches. Within that shaded square; a white square has a width of 2 inches.
What would be the area of the shaded square excluding the white square?
a. 14 inches squared
b. 4 inches squared
c. 36 inches squared
d. 32 inches squared
d. 32 inches squared
A rectangle is made up two smaller rectangles. One rectangle has a length of 4 inches and the other rectangle's length is represented by "j". The total width of the rectangle is 3 inches.
Which expression can represent the total perimeter of the rectangle?
a) 14j + 2
b) 14 + 2j
c) 7 + 3j
d) 7j + 3
What is...
b) 14 + 2j