Srinivasa Ramanujan, a genius mathematician, left an indelible mark on the field with his profound insights. Every year, on his birthday, we celebrate National Mathematics Day to honour his legacy. It’s crucial for people to be aware of this remarkable individual, which is why we’ve prepared a quiz on Ramanujan to commemorate his birthday and inspire mathematical curiosity.
General Knowledge Quiz on Srinivasa Ramanujan
National Mathematics Day is celebrated on December 22nd every year in India to honor the birth anniversary of the legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. This day was officially declared as National Mathematics Day in 2012 by the Indian government to commemorate Ramanujan’s unparalleled contributions to mathematics. Ramanujan, born in 1887, possessed an innate mathematical genius that led to numerous groundbreaking discoveries in number theory, infinite series, and more. His work continues to inspire mathematicians worldwide. By celebrating National Mathematics Day, India acknowledges Ramanujan’s legacy and encourages the pursuit of mathematical knowledge and research, fostering a deeper appreciation for the subject.
Following we have provided MCQs on “Srinivasa Ramanujan” for your self-assessment and to help you learn something new through the process.
Q1. When was Srinivasa Ramanujan born?
A. 22 December 1879
B. 7 April 1889
C. 30 June 1887
D. 3 March 1885
Ans: A. 22 December 1879
Q2. In which town in South India was Ramanujan born?
A. Madurai
B. Chennai
C. Bangalore
D. Hyderabad
Ans: A. Madurai
Q3. At what age did Ramanujan start studying mathematics?
A. 7 years old
B. 10 years old
C. 13 years old
D. 16 years old
Ans: C. 13 years old
Q4. Which film is based on Ramanujan’s life?
A. The Man who knew infinity
B. A Beautiful Mind
C. Gifted
D. X+Y
Ans: A. The Man Who Knew Infinity
Q5. Who invited Ramanujan to England?
A. John Littlewood
B. G.H. Hardy
C. Isaac Newton
D. David Hilbert
Ans: B. G.H. Hardy
Q6. Which year was celebrated as National Mathematics Year by the Government of India?
A. 2010
B. 2013
C. 2011
D. 2012
Ans: D. 2012
Q7. At what age did Ramanujan pass away?
A. 26
B. 31
C. 33
D. 39
Ans: C. 33
Q8. What disease did Ramanujan suffer from, which caused his health to decline rapidly?
A. Diabetes
B. Tuberculosis
C. Cancer
D. Malaria
Ans: B. Tuberculosis
Q9. Which mathematical concept did Ramanujan develop independently of contemporary mathematicians?
A. The Riemann hypothesis
B. The theory of elliptic curves
C. Modular forms
D. The partition function
Ans: D. The partition function
Q10. How many years did Ramanujan spend in England before returning to India?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Ans: B. 2
Q11. Hardy–Ramanujan number is the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in two different ways. Which one of the following is the number?
A. 2197
B. 1927
C. 1729
D. 1279
Ans: C. 1729
Q12. Name the film based on Srinivasa Ramanujan’s life.
A. The Man Who Knew Infinity
B. A Beautiful Mind
C. Gifted
D. X+Y
Ans: A. The Man Who Knew Infinity
Q13. Which of the following is a biographical novel loosely based on the famous partnership between Srinivasa Ramanujan and G H Hardy?
A. A Beautiful Mind
B. X+Y
C. A Disappearing Number
D. The Indian Clerk
Ans: D. The Indian Clerk
Q14. In 2007, a play based on Srinivasa Ramanujan and G H Hardy won several awards. Do you know the title of the play?
A. The Man Who Knew Infinity
B. A Beautiful Mind
C. The Indian Clerk
D. A Disappearing Number
Ans: D. A Disappearing Number
Q15. On the 125th birth anniversary of Ramanujan, the Indian Government declared 22 December as National Mathematics Day. In which year did the celebration start?
A. 2011
B. 2012
C. 2013
D. 2015
Ans: B. 2012
Q16. Where is the Ramanujan IT City, an Information Technology Special Economic Zone, situated?
A. Bangalore
B. Chennai
C. Hyderabad
D. Delhi
Ans: B. Chennai
Q17. G H Hardy gave a personal rating of mathematicians on a scale from 0 to 100. He gave himself a score of 25, J. E. Littlewood 30, and David Hilbert 80. Do you know what was his rating for Ramanujan?
A. 50
B. 90
C. 75
D. 100
Ans: D. 100
Q18. One of the two recipients of SASTRA Ramanujan Prize when it was first awarded in 2005, this famous mathematician was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2015. Who is he?
A. Kannan Soundararajan
B. Manjul Bhargava
C. Akshay Venkatesh
D. Ben Green
Ans: B. Manjul Bhargava
Q19. “An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God.” is a quote attributed to Srinivasa Ramanujan.
A. True
B. False
Ans: True
Q20. As a student, Ramanujan’s performance in subjects other than Mathematics was poor.
A. True
B. False
Ans: True
Q21. Srinivasa Ramanujan was the first Indian to become a member of Fellows of the Royal Society.
A. True
B. False
Ans: True
Biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan
Srinivasa Ramanujan, one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, was born on December 22, 1887, in Erode, a small town in Tamil Nadu, India. His early life was marked by financial hardship, but his innate talent for mathematics soon became evident.
Ramanujan’s mathematical journey began at a young age when he started exploring mathematical concepts on his own. By the age of 12, he had already mastered advanced trigonometry and had discovered his own theorems. His family, recognizing his exceptional abilities, provided him with limited resources to continue his studies.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including limited access to formal education and resources, Ramanujan’s genius couldn’t be stifled. He independently discovered and proved theorems in number theory and advanced mathematical topics. His work attracted the attention of local mathematicians, and he began corresponding with G. S. Carr, a mathematics professor in Chennai.
In 1913, Ramanujan sent a letter with some of his work to the renowned British mathematician G. H. Hardy. Recognizing the extraordinary talent displayed in Ramanujan’s work, Hardy invited him to England to collaborate and further his studies. Ramanujan arrived in England in 1914 and began working with Hardy at the University of Cambridge.
During his time in England, Ramanujan made groundbreaking contributions to mathematics. He produced a plethora of theorems, formulas, and identities, many of which were in the field of number theory. His work in areas like modular forms, partitions, and mock theta functions laid the foundation for significant advancements in mathematics.
Despite his short life, Ramanujan’s contributions had a lasting impact on the field of mathematics. His discoveries opened up new avenues of research and continue to be studied and applied by mathematicians worldwide.
Tragically, Ramanujan’s life was cut short when he succumbed to health issues, likely exacerbated by malnutrition and the harsh English climate. He passed away on April 26, 1920, at the age of 32. His untimely death marked the loss of a mathematical genius whose work continues to inspire and inform mathematical research to this day.
History and Importance of National Mathematics Day
National Mathematics Day is celebrated on December 22nd every year in India to honor the birth anniversary of the legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. This day was officially declared as National Mathematics Day in 2012 by the Indian government to commemorate Ramanujan’s unparalleled contributions to mathematics.
Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887, in the town of Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. Despite having no formal education in mathematics, Ramanujan displayed extraordinary mathematical talent from a young age. He made substantial contributions to various branches of mathematics, including number theory, infinite series, and mathematical analysis.
Ramanujan’s work was not only groundbreaking but also profoundly influential in the field of mathematics. His discoveries opened new avenues for research and continue to inspire mathematicians worldwide. He produced a vast number of theorems, formulas, and identities that are still studied and used in mathematics today.
One of Ramanujan’s most famous contributions is his theory of modular forms and the partition function. His discoveries in the theory of prime numbers and the properties of partitions of numbers into sums of squares and cubes have had a lasting impact on mathematics.
To honor Ramanujan’s legacy and promote the importance of mathematics, the Indian government decided to celebrate his birth anniversary as National Mathematics Day. This annual observance serves as a reminder of the power of mathematics to advance knowledge and solve complex problems.
National Mathematics Day encourages students, teachers, and mathematics enthusiasts to engage in various mathematical activities, seminars, workshops, and competitions. It aims to foster a deeper appreciation for mathematics and inspire the younger generation to pursue careers in mathematics and related fields.
Moreover, the celebration of National Mathematics Day emphasizes the significance of recognizing and nurturing mathematical talent, even in those who may not have access to formal education. It highlights the idea that mathematical genius can emerge from diverse backgrounds and regions.