Question

Remembering that 1AD came immediately after 1BC, while solving these problems take 1BC as –1 and 1AD as +1.

1. The Greeco-Roman era, when Greece and Rome ruled Egypt started in the year 330 BC and ended in the year 395 AD. How long did this era last?
2. Bhaskaracharya was born in the year 1114 AD and died in the year 1185 AD. What was his age when he died?
3. Turks ruled Egypt in the year 1517 AD and Queen Nefertis ruled Egypt about 2900 years before the Turks ruled. In what year did she rule?
4. Greek mathematician Archimedes lived between 287 BC and 212 BC and Aristotle lived between 380 BC and 322 BC. Who lived during an earlier period?

Answer 1

Taking 1 BC as –1 and 1 AD as +1

a. Starting year = 330 BC = (–330) AD

Ending year = 395 AD

The era lasted for = 395 – (–330)

= 395 + 330

= 725 years

b. Born year = 1114 AD

Death year = 1185 AD

∴ Total age = 1185 – 1114 = 71 years

c. Turks ruled Egypt in 1517 AD

Queen Nefertis ruled Egypt in

(1517 – 2900) AD = –1383 AD or 1383 BC.

d. Archimedes lived between 287 BC and 212 BC

Aristotle lived between 380 BC and 322 BC

∴ Aristotle lived during an earlier period.