Question 13
ComprehensionJAMB 1985 Passage III: Mathematics as an art
Mathematics is the language in which the Book of Nature is written: Mathematics is the queen of the Sciences. It is universally agreed that Mathematics is the backbone of Science and Technology. For without Mathematics the engineer is but an artist or a scultptor. He can build his bridge, attest to its form and beauty, but without Mathematics he cannot guarantee its reliability to serve the purpose for which it is built. Mathematics is indeed the science of sciences. It is also art of all arts. It is right, legitimate and defensible to consider Mathematics as an Art. The poet, the musician, the artist and the mathematician have a lot in common. Fundamental to all their studies and works is their common interest in the logical study of related concepts and objects form patterns which will produce beauty, harmony and order. Thus the poet arranges words to produce a pattern called poetry: the musician arranges sounds to produce a pattern called music, the artist arranges colours to produce pattern called painting and the mathematician arranges abstract ideas into a pattern, using symbols, to produce equations. Each of these patterns — the poem, the music, the painting and the equation must stand up to the test of some order, harmony and beauty. So if Mathematics is not an art what is art?
'Mathematics' is written with a capital M in this passage because
- A.the writer is a mathematician
- B.the writer does not know how to use punctuation correctly
- C.the writer wants to distinguish between a concept and a subject
- D.it is the normal way of writing about the sciences
- E.the writer is confused
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C (the writer wants to distinguish between a concept and a subject)
Explanation
The capital letter marks Mathematics as a named subject or discipline rather than the general idea of mathematics.