the classics pages

[Classics Teachers' Page]

MATHS-CLASSICS PROJECT

ASSIGNMENT 5: THE GREEKS

There are many famous Greek Mathematicians. Write briefly about the following men: the information in brackets may help you.

PYTHAGORAS     ( theorem )

EUCLID     ( measuring the width of a river )

ARCHIMEDES     ( heureka ( which is the proper Greek word, rather than eureka!), Principle, screw )

ERATOSTHENES [http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~eww6n/bios/Eratosthenes.html] (circumference of the earth, [http://www.windows.umich.edu/people/ancient_epoch/eratosthenes.html ]sieve [http://www.math.utah.edu/classes/216/assignment-07.html])

Draw each of the following . Find out the literal meaning and explain how the mathematical meaning has developed.

1. trapezium ( literally means 'table shape', why maths meaning? )

2. rhombus

3. isosceles triangle

4. parallel lines

5. parallelogram

6. sphere

7. pyramid

8. tetrahedron

9. cone

10. cylinder

11. prism

Next assignment - the Roman Calendar

Printer friendly page: click to print

What's new? Search the site? Main Index? Bookshop? Top of Page?

The Classics Pages are written and designed by Andrew Wilson
Comments, questions and contributions welcome.