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Quadrature of the circle
(1,369 words)

(ὁ τοῦ κύκλου τετραγωνισμός/ho toû kýklou tetragōnismós, Latin quadratura circuli).

[German version]

I. The nature of the problem

The quadrature of the circle is one of the three 'classic problems' (the other two being the trisection of an angle, cf. division of angles and circles, and the duplication of the cube) of ancient Greek mathematics. The problem is to find the side x of a square such that its area is equal to the area of a circle with radius r using a geometric procedure; that is,  to determin…

Cite this page
Folkerts, Menso (Munich), “Quadrature of the circle”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e12223400>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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