Aleksandra Bojović
ARCHIMEDES OF SYRACUSE
Publishing House PČELICA Kolubarska 4, Čačak, Serbia office@pcelica.rs www.pcelica.rs
T
he half-mythical story of Archimedes, one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, comes to us from Sicily, the biggest Mediterranean island. It takes us to the ancient times and to the magical world of this genius, captivated by the vastness of space and the magic of numbers.
6
Archimedes
The Wonder of Syracuse The famous Ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, astronomer
1
and inventor2 Archimedes was born in 287 B.C. in Syracuse, a city on the eastern coast of Sicily.
Archimedes’ father Phidias was a famous mathematician of that time, so he gave his son much more than a beginner’s understanding of mathematics. However, in spite of the encouraging environment, having quickly surpassed his father, the talented son was hungry for knowledge and went away so that he may one day return home and help his town. Without difficulty or opposition, his wealthy family secured Archimedes an opportunity to continue his education in Alexandria, which was at that time the centre of the world’s science and culture. 1 2
An astronomer is a scientist who studies the universe. An inventor is a man who invents new processes or devices.
7
n the City of I Alexander the Great
Alexandria was a city in North Africa founded in 331 B.C.
by Alexander the Great, situated at the confluence of the Nile into the Mediterranean Sea. In Archimedes’ time it was a real metropolis. However, what was more important, with its famous library Alexandria became the scientific and cultural centre of the world. Anyone who wanted to acquire the best possible education, and later do scientific work, came to Alexandria. Young Archimedes quickly and easily joined the scientific circles there. He took part in public discussions, exchanged ideas in the fields of mathematics and astronomy with other scientists, and made friends with who he kept in touch even after returning to Syracuse. 8
9
The Magical Number π In the field of mathematics Archimedes was especially intrigued
by the circle. Even though it is impossible to precisely determine its area, which is why the expression “to square the circle” is used to refer to impossible problems, Archimedes greatly improved this surface area of geometry1. By drawing polygons with many sides inside circles, he calculated that the approximate value of the so-called number pi (π) is 3.14. The number π represents the relationship between the circumference and the diameter of a circle and that relationship is the same for every curved line.
With these discoveries Archimedes was able to calculate the area of a circle more precisely than before, and later the surface area of the sphere and cylinder. 1
10
G eometry is a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of points, lines, planes, geometric shapes and figures, and their interrelationships.
In gratitude to this great mathematician, the number π is called the Archimedes’ Constant1. šA constant is a number used to express a value which is always the same.
11
Aleksandra Bojović
ARCHIMEDES OF SYRACUSE
Publishing House PČELICA Kolubarska 4, Čačak, Serbia office@pcelica.rs www.pcelica.rs