Euclid: Difference between revisions

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'''Euclid''' (/ˈjuːklɪd/; Greek: Εὐκλείδης, ''Eukleidēs'' Ancient Greek: [eu̯.klěː.dɛːs]; fl. 300 BC), sometimes called '''Euclid of Alexandria''' to distinguish him from Euclides of Megara, was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "father of geometry".
'''Euclid''' (/ˈjuːklɪd/; Greek: Εὐκλείδης, ''Eukleidēs'' Ancient Greek: [eu̯.klěː.dɛːs]; fl. 300 BC), sometimes called '''Euclid of Alexandria''' to distinguish him from Euclides of Megara, was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "father of geometry".


He was active in [[Alexandria (nonfiction)|Alexandria]] during the reign of Ptolemy I (323–283 BC).
His ''Elements'' is one of the most influential works in the history of mathematics, serving as the main textbook for teaching mathematics (especially geometry) from the time of its publication until the late 19th or early 20th century. In the ''Elements'', Euclid deduced the principles of what is now called Euclidean geometry from a small set of [[Axiom (nonfiction)|axioms]].
Euclid also wrote works on perspective, conic sections, spherical geometry, number theory, and rigor.
Euclid is the anglicized version of the Greek name Εὐκλείδης, which means "renowned, glorious".
Very few original references to Euclid survive, so little is known about his life. The date, place and circumstances of both his birth and death are unknown and may only be estimated roughly relative to other people mentioned with him. He is rarely mentioned by name by other Greek mathematicians from [[Archimedes (nonfiction)|Archimedes]] (c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC) onward, and is usually referred to as "ὁ στοιχειώτης" ("the author of Elements"). The few historical references to Euclid were written centuries after he lived by Proclus c. 450 AD and Pappus of Alexandria c. 320 AD.
Proclus introduces Euclid only briefly in his ''Commentary on the Elements''. According to Proclus, Euclid belonged to [[Plato (nonfiction)|Plato]]'s "persuasion" and brought together the Elements, drawing on prior work by several pupils of Plato (particularly Eudoxus of Cnidus, Theaetetus and Philip of Opus.) Proclus believes that Euclid is not much younger than these, and that he must have lived during the time of Ptolemy I because he was mentioned by [[Archimedes (nonfiction)|Archimedes]] (287–212 BC). Although the apparent citation of Euclid by Archimedes has been judged to be an interpolation by later editors of his works, it is still believed that Euclid wrote his works before those of Archimedes.


== In the News ==
== In the News ==
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== Fiction cross-reference ==
== Fiction cross-reference ==


* [[Euclid]]


== Nonfiction cross-reference ==
== Nonfiction cross-reference ==

Revision as of 20:38, 8 September 2017

Euclid (/ˈjuːklɪd/; Greek: Εὐκλείδης, Eukleidēs Ancient Greek: [eu̯.klěː.dɛːs]; fl. 300 BC), sometimes called Euclid of Alexandria to distinguish him from Euclides of Megara, was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "father of geometry".


In the News

Fiction cross-reference

Nonfiction cross-reference

External links:

Attribution:

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