Book:Pappus of Alexandria/Collection
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Pappus of Alexandria: Collection
Published $\text {c. 340}$
Subject Matter
- A compendium of the state of mathematics as it was known as the time.
Contents
- Book I is lost.
- Book II (the first part of which is lost) concerned the multiplication system of Apollonius of Perga.
- Book III contains geometrical problems.
- Book IV contains deep theorems concerning circles and other more complicated curved geometrical figures.
- Book V contains solid geometry, taking as its starting point the five Platonic solids.
- Book VI resolves difficulties in various "lesser astronomical works" (i.e. others than Claudius Ptolemy's Almagest), including Euclid's Optics and Phaenomena.
- Book VII discusses books by various authors: Euclid, Apollonius, Aristaeus and Eratosthenes.
- Book VIII is mainly mechanics, but there are some theorems of pure geometry as well.
Also known as
In the original Greek: Synagoge (Συναγωγή).
Also referred to as Mathematical Collection
Sources
- 1992: George F. Simmons: Calculus Gems ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {A}.8$: Pappus (fourth century A.D.)