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LCL · Greek

Greek Mathematical Works, Volume I: Thales to Euclid

Greek mathematics in extracts, from the earliest geometry to the late commentators, with the Greek set against a facing translation.

The Edition

Original language
Greek
Translated by
Ivor Thomas

Publication

Series volume
335
Date published
1939-01-01
Print status
In print

The Physical Book

Binding
Hardcover
Dust jacket
Yes
Total pages
576 pages
ISBN-13
9780674993693

Reference

Read online
Read Here
Publisher page
View at publisher

Contents

  • I. Introductory
    • (a) Mathematics and its divisions
      • (i) Origin of the name
      • (ii) The Pythagorean quadrivium
      • (iii) Plato’s scheme
      • (iv) Logistic
      • (v) Later classification
    • (b) Mathematics in Greek education
    • (c) Practical calculation
      • (i) Enumeration by fingers
      • (ii) The abacus
  • II. Arithmetical Notation and the Chief Arithmetical Operations
    • (a) English notes and examples
    • (b) Division
    • (c) Extraction of the square root
    • (d) Extraction of the cube root
  • III. Pythagorean Arithmetic
    • (a) First principles
    • (b) Classification of numbers
    • (c) Perfect numbers
    • (d) Figured numbers
      • (i) General
      • (ii) Triangular numbers
      • (iii) Oblong and square numbers
      • (iv) Polygonal numbers
      • (v) Gnomons of polygonal numbers
    • (e) Some properties of numbers
      • (i) The “sieve” of Eratosthenes
      • (ii) Divisibility of squares
      • (iii) A theorem about cube numbers
      • (iv) A property of the pythmen
    • (f) Irrationality of the square root of 2
    • (g)The theory of proportion and means
      • (i) Arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means
      • (ii) Seven other means
      • (iii) Pappus’s equations between means
      • (iv) Plato on means between two squares or two cubes
      • (v) A theorem of Archytas
    • (h) Algebraic equations
      • (i) Side- and diameter-numbers
      • (ii) The “bloom” of Thymaridas
  • IV. Proclus’s Summary
  • Thales
  • VI. Pythagorean Geometry
    • (a) General
    • (b) Sum of the angles of a triangle
    • (c) “Pythagoras’s theorem”
    • (d) The application of areas
    • (e) The irrational
    • (f) The five regular solids
  • VII. Democritus
  • VIII. Hippocrates of Chios
    • (a) General
    • (b) Quadrature of lunes
    • (c) Two mean proportionals
  • IX. Special Problems
    • 1. Duplication of the Cube
      • (a) General
      • (b) Solutions given by Eutocius
        • (i) “Plato”
        • (ii) Heron
        • (iii) Diocles
        • (iv) Menaechmus: solution by conics
        • (v) Archytas: solution in three dimensions
        • (vi) Eratosthenes
        • (vii) Nicomedes: the Conchoid
    • 2. Squaring of the Circle
      • (a) General
      • b) Approximation by polygons
        • (i) Antiphon
        • (ii) Bryson
        • (iii) Archimedes
      • c) Solutions by higher curves
        • (i) General
        • (ii) The Quadratrix
    • 3. Trisection of an angle
      • (a) Types of geometrical problems
      • (b) Solution by means of a verging
      • (c) Direct solutions by means of conics
  • X. Zeno of Elea
  • XI. Theaetetus
    • (a) General
    • (b) The five regular solids
    • (c) The irrational
  • XII. Plato
    • (a) General
    • (b) Philosophy of mathematics
    • (c) The diorismos in the Meno
    • (d) The nuptial number
    • (e) Generation of numbers
  • XIII. Eudoxus of Cnidos
    • (a) Theory of proportion
    • (b) Volume of pyramid and cone
    • (c) Theory of concentric spheres
  • XIV. Aristotle
    • (a) First principles
    • (b) The infinite
    • (c) Proof differing from Euclid’s
    • (d) Mechanics
      • (i) Principle of the lever
      • (ii) Parallelogram of velocities
  • XV. Euclid
    • (a) General
    • b) The Elements
      • (i) Foundations
      • (ii) Theory of proportion
      • (iii) Theory of incommensurables
      • (iv) Method of exhaustion
      • (v) Regular solids
    • (c) The Data
    • (d) The Porisms
    • (e) The Conics
    • (f) The Surface Loci
    • (g) The Optics
    • (h) A Pre-Eudoxan Theory of Proportion
    • i) The Golden Section