Masterset

Question 1

What is blockchain technology?

Answer 1

A distributed ledger of time-stamped transaction blocks maintained across synchronized nodes.

Question 2

What are nodes?

Answer 2

Connected computers that store the full blockchain and validate transactions.

Question 3

What is a distributed ledger?

Answer 3

A shared database existing across multiple nodes, not in one central location.

Question 4

What is a hash function?

Answer 4

A cryptographic function producing a unique fixed-length output; any input change alters the hash.

Question 5

How are hash functions used in blockchain?

Answer 5

They generate unique values linking blocks together securely.

Question 6

What is Proof of Work?

Answer 6

A consensus method requiring nodes to solve complex math problems to validate blocks.

Question 7

What is Proof of Stake?

Answer 7

A consensus method selecting validators based on how much stake they hold.

Question 8

What is Proof of Elapsed Time?

Answer 8

A consensus method where nodes wait for a random amount of time to validate a block.

Question 9

What enables transaction initiation and broadcast?

Answer 9

Asymmetric encryption and digital signatures.

Question 10

What is a digital signature?

Answer 10

An encrypted form of electronic ID used to authenticate senders.

Question 11

Is blockchain secure?

Answer 11

Generally yes, unless someone gains majority control of nodes (51% attack).

Question 12

What is a 51% attack?

Answer 12

An attack where someone controlling most nodes can change or remove transactions.

Question 13

Blockchain applications?

Answer 13

Cryptocurrency, smart contracts, digital identity, NFTs, medical records, supply chain authenticity.

Question 14

Types of blockchain networks?

Answer 14

Public, private, consortium, and hybrid blockchains.

Question 15

Value creation with blockchain?

Answer 15

Reduces uncertainty via immutable, shared, trusted transaction records.

Question 16

What is data analytics?

Answer 16

Collecting, organizing, and analyzing data to discover patterns and create actionable decisions.

Question 17

What does data analytics help businesses do?

Answer 17

Understand data, identify important data, and support data-driven decision-making.

Question 18

Benefits of data analytics?

Answer 18

Increased efficiency, improved operations, enhanced customer retention.

Question 19

Examples of data analytics in companies?

Answer 19

Walmart (hurricanes & Pop-Tarts), Osco Drug (beer & diapers), Target (targeted ads).

Question 20

Three-legged stool of data analytics?

Answer 20

Technology acumen, business acumen, statistics acumen.

Question 21

Types of analytics?

Answer 21

Descriptive, predictive, prescriptive analytics.

Question 22

Descriptive analytics?

Answer 22

Explains what has happened using historical data.

Question 23

Predictive analytics?

Answer 23

Uses past data to predict future outcomes.

Question 24

Prescriptive analytics?

Answer 24

Uses descriptive and predictive analytics to propose optimal actions.

Question 25

Predictive analytics examples?

Answer 25

Starbucks store placement; FedEx forecasting customer responses.

Question 26

Google case question?

Answer 26

Do managers matter?

Question 27

How did Google collect manager data?

Answer 27

Performance reviews and employee surveys evaluating top vs bottom quartiles.

Question 28

Google findings about managers?

Answer 28

Significant differences in productivity, happiness, and turnover.

Question 29

Challenges in data analytics?

Answer 29

Big data volume, structured vs unstructured data, data silos.

Question 30

What is data visualization?

Answer 30

Graphically displaying information to reveal insights.

Question 31

Data visualization tools?

Answer 31

Tableau, Power BI, QlikView.

Question 32

What can Tableau do?

Answer 32

Sort, highlight, filter data, reveal trends and outliers.

Question 33

Problem quantum computing solves?

Answer 33

Classical computers face limits from Moore’s Law and linear processing; quantum computing tackles complex problems.

Question 34

Difference between bits and qubits?

Answer 34

Bits are 0 or 1; qubits can be 0, 1, or both through superposition.

Question 35

What is superposition?

Answer 35

A qubit being in multiple states simultaneously, enabling exponential processing.

Question 36

What is entanglement?

Answer 36

Linked quantum states where measuring one affects the other.

Question 37

Quantum computing challenge?

Answer 37

Error rates and decoherence.

Question 38

Business use: Finance

Answer 38

Portfolio optimization, fraud detection.

Question 39

Business use: Insurance

Answer 39

Risk analysis, product valuation.

Question 40

Business use: Energy

Answer 40

Usage predictions and optimization.

Question 41

Business use: Transportation

Answer 41

Autonomous vehicles, traffic optimization.

Question 42

Business use: Logistics

Answer 42

Supply chain optimization.

Question 43

Business use: Pharma/Chemicals

Answer 43

Drug discovery, R&D.

Question 44

Business use: Cybersecurity

Answer 44

Secure cryptographic methods.

Question 45

Business use: Technology

Answer 45

AI improvement, database processing.

Question 46

Value creation with quantum computing?

Answer 46

Reduces uncertainties businesses face and accelerates discovery.

Question 47

What is a drone?

Answer 47

A pilotless radio-controlled aircraft.

Question 48

Drone capabilities?

Answer 48

Agriculture, inspections, temporary cell connection, deliveries, food, military.

Question 49

Drone benefits?

Answer 49

Faster, cheaper, safer, more frequent tasks, increased data gathering.

Question 50

Drone economic outlook?

Answer 50

~170k commercial drones sold in 2019; $13B spent 2016–2020; $127B cost savings potential.

Question 51

Definition of a robot?

Answer 51

A machine performing mechanical tasks or operating automatically with humanlike skill.

Question 52

What can robots do? (repetitive)

Answer 52

Floor scrubbing, inventory scanning.

Question 53

What can robots do? (dangerous)

Answer 53

Military tasks, space exploration, manufacturing.

Question 54

What can robots do? (personal)

Answer 54

Personal care, home assistance, entertainment.

Question 55

Future workforce impact?

Answer 55

Up to 800M jobs displaced by 2030; 55% more time using technical skills.

Question 56

Skill half-life?

Answer 56

Declined from 26 years to ~4.5 years.

Question 57

How to robot-proof your career?

Answer 57

Develop technical literacy, data literacy, and human literacy like creativity, empathy, cultural agility.

Question 58

Career advice?

Answer 58

Constantly update your skills.

Question 59

Only practical application of blockchain is crypto (T/F)

Answer 59

False

Question 60

Blockchain provides a simple way for any kind of transaction (T/F)

Answer 60

True

Question 61

Understanding KPIs helps businesses…

Answer 61

Investigate trends, predict outcomes, discover insights.

Question 62

Data isn’t helpful unless you know the question (T/F)

Answer 62

True

Question 63

Classical computing solves really hard problems (T/F)

Answer 63

False

Question 64

Silicon-based quantum devices 99% error free?

Answer 64

True (per prep material).

Question 65

Why Walmart uses robots?

Answer 65

Assist customers, reduce turnover, manage rising costs.

Question 66

Data literacy?

Answer 66

Ability to navigate machine-generated information.

Question 67

Responsible tech use question?

Answer 67

Answer should apply course tech to personal objectives.

Question 68

Professor feedback: What did he do well?

Answer 68

Open response.

Question 69

Professor feedback: What can he improve?

Answer 69

Open response.