The problem is how did Archimedes calculate the lengths of the sides of the polygons which needed him to be able to calculate square roots?
Are these estimates of physical quantities accurate?
In this twist on the well-known Countdown numbers game, use your knowledge of Powers and Roots to make a target.
An evolutionist suggests that at some distant point 400 million years in the past one of his ancestors was an early form of fish. Try to estimate the number of generations that link the scientist to the fish. To make your estimation, you will need to fill in sensible values for the species in the table below (you will possibly need to research these numbers, and feel free to use a spreadsheet for the calculations. A good place to start is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_human_evolution)
Can you produce a sensible estimate for a number that you are confident exceeds the actual number of generations?
Can you produce a sensible estimate for a number that you are confident is definitely less than the actual number of generations?
There will be various estimates and assumptions that you need to make in this question. Can you clearly state the most important factors?