Read more
Although not so well known today, Book 4 of Pappus' Collection is one of the most important and influential mathematical texts from antiquity. The mathematical vignettes form a portrait of mathematics during the Hellenistic "Golden Age", illustrating central problems - for example, squaring the circle; doubling the cube; and trisecting an angle - varying solution strategies, and the different mathematical styles within ancient geometry.
This volume provides an English translation of Collection 4, in full, for the first time, including: a new edition of the Greek text, based on a fresh transcription from the main manuscript and offering an alternative to Hultsch's standard edition, notes to facilitate understanding of the steps in the mathematical argument, a commentary highlighting aspects of the work that have so far been neglected, and supporting the reconstruction of a coherent plan and vision within the work, bibliographical references for further study.
List of contents
General Introduction.- Part I - Text and translation;- Greek text and annotated translation.- Part II - Commentary;- 2 Plane Geometry.- 3 Plane Geometry, Archaic Style.- 4 Plane Geometry, Archimedean.- 5 Motion curves and symptoma-mathematics.- 6 Meta-theoretical passage.- 7 Angle trisection.- 8 General angle division.- 9 Quadratix, rectification property.- 10 Analysis for an Archimedean neusis.- Appendices.
Summary
Although not so well known today, Book 4 of Pappus’ Collection is one of the most important and influential mathematical texts from antiquity. The mathematical vignettes form a portrait of mathematics during the Hellenistic "Golden Age", illustrating central problems – for example, squaring the circle; doubling the cube; and trisecting an angle – varying solution strategies, and the different mathematical styles within ancient geometry.
This volume provides an English translation of Collection 4, in full, for the first time, including: a new edition of the Greek text, based on a fresh transcription from the main manuscript and offering an alternative to Hultsch’s standard edition, notes to facilitate understanding of the steps in the mathematical argument, a commentary highlighting aspects of the work that have so far been neglected, and supporting the reconstruction of a coherent plan and vision within the work, bibliographical references for further study.
