LAST (Family) NAME

FIRST (Given) NAME

Student Number:

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Faculty of Arts and Science
December 2019 Examinations
MAT271H1F
Duration – 3 hours
No aids are permitted.
Instructor: Joe Repka

Exam Reminders:
• Fill out your name and student number at the top of this page.
• Do not begin writing the actual exam until the announcements have ended and the Exam Facil-
itator has started the exam.
• As a student, you help create a fair and inclusive writing environment. If you possess an unau-
thorized aid during an exam, you may be charged with an academic offence.
• Turn off and place all cell phones, smart watches, electronic devices, and unauthorized study
materials in your bag under your desk. If any of these items is left in your pocket, it may be an
academic offence.
• When you are done your exam, raise your hand for someone to come and collect your exam. Do
not collect your bag and jacket before your exam is handed in.
• If you are feeling ill and unable to finish your exam, please bring it to the attention of an Exam
Facilitator so it can be recorded before you leave the exam hall.
• In the event of a fire alarm, do not check your cell phone when escorted outside.

Exam Format and Grading Scheme:

Answer all questions on this question paper. Marks as indicated.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total

Students must hand in all examination materials at the end.

1
1. ([10] marks) Make a (rough) diagram of Brunelleschi’s trick for showing off the power of his system
of drawing. Describe how it worked.

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2. (i) ([8] marks) Describe the different versions of Fisher’s Law.

(ii) ([2] marks) Why is genetic diversity important?

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3. ([10] marks) Briefly tell the story of al Haytham, mentioning his contributions to knowledge.

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4. (i) ([7] marks) (i) Describe what your choice would be if you were presented with Newcomb’s
Problem.

(ii) ([3] marks) Describe how somebody who made the opposite choice would justify that choice.

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5. ([10] marks) Describe the significance of Arrow’s Paradox in the context of Canadian politics.

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6. ([10] marks) Describe two ways people might employ mixed strategies in their everyday lives.

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7. ([10] marks) Tell the story of Tartaglia, mentioning how he got his nickname and his major contri-
butions to science.

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8. ([10] marks) Discuss the notion of symmetry. Include a description of the way symmetry is described
in mathematics, and discuss three examples, making sure to show how they fit the description you have
just given. You may choose some of the examples discussed in class or you may decide to describe other
examples.

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9. (i) ([6] marks) What does the theory of Thermodynamics have to tell us about “perpetual motion
machines”? Your answer should probably contain the word “entropy”.

(ii) ([4] marks) Explain how to reconcile the theory of Thermodynamics with the feasibility of life on
earth. Specifically, why does the growth of living organisms not contradict the result from Thermody-
namics which says a system must always become more disordered?

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10. ([10] marks) Describe the development of firehall design.

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The end (total points to collect = 100).