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Osječki matematički list, Vol. 24 No. 2, 2024.

Reminescences

Eudoxus’ method of exhaustion

Franka Miriam Brückler orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-8410-0476 ; Matematički odsjek, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu *

* Corresponding author.

Full text: croatian pdf 484 Kb

page 133-146

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Abstract

The paper discusses the principles of the method of exhaustion, which was the ancient Greek predecessor of limits and integrals. Its first precise description is attributed to Eudoxus of Cnidus, and along with his contribution, examples of its application from Euclid’s Elements and Archimedes of Syracuse are described. Specifically, important results obtained by this method are highlighted - the proportionality of the area of a circle and a square over its diameter, and Archimedes’ theorems on the circle, sphere, and Archimedean spiral. A brief overview of its later use, before the foundation of calculus, is also given

Keywords

Eudoxus of Cnidus, history of infinitesimal calculus, limits, integration, area problem, Archimedes of Syracuse

Hrčak ID:

340734

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/340734

Publication date:

6.11.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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