What do you think?
Rate this book
Great Minds of Science
Archimedes: Mathematical Genius Of The Ancient World
Profiles the life and accomplishments of the third-century B.C. Greek mathematician and inventor, including his geometrical discoveries, solar system model, and military machines.
- GenresScience
128 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2005
16 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 19, 2016
A fine introduction to this life and his works. It is packed with facts about him and about the work he did to further science and civilization. Fascinating stuff.
A few facts that I want to remember:
"Although we have few verifiable facts about Archimedes' life, we know a great deal about his investigations and discoveries. Archimedes did not just think great thoughts, he WROTE THEM DOWN." (Take that Socrates.)
"Euclid did not make original discoveries. He explained other mathematicians' discoveries. Euclid wrote thirteen books known as The Elements. The Elements is considered the greatest mathematical textbook ever written. The Elements is still used to teach geometry today."
"Aristarchus of Samos had a different view: 'He supposes that the fixed stars and the sun do not move, but that the earth revolves about the sun which lies in the middle of the orbit.'. Aristarchus envisioned the sun rather than the earth at the center of our planetary system. This reference in Archimedes' The Sand Reckoner is the earliest mention of a sun-centered theory in ancient Greece. Aristarchus' idea was explored again eighteen centuries later by thinkers including Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler."
A few facts that I want to remember:
"Although we have few verifiable facts about Archimedes' life, we know a great deal about his investigations and discoveries. Archimedes did not just think great thoughts, he WROTE THEM DOWN." (Take that Socrates.)
"Euclid did not make original discoveries. He explained other mathematicians' discoveries. Euclid wrote thirteen books known as The Elements. The Elements is considered the greatest mathematical textbook ever written. The Elements is still used to teach geometry today."
"Aristarchus of Samos had a different view: 'He supposes that the fixed stars and the sun do not move, but that the earth revolves about the sun which lies in the middle of the orbit.'. Aristarchus envisioned the sun rather than the earth at the center of our planetary system. This reference in Archimedes' The Sand Reckoner is the earliest mention of a sun-centered theory in ancient Greece. Aristarchus' idea was explored again eighteen centuries later by thinkers including Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler."
December 2, 2014
This book was a pleasant surprise. Written for kids in 5th-7th grades, it not only talks about Archimedes’ mathematical discoveries and inventions, but transports us back to Siracusa, Sicily and describes to us how it must have been to live in that time and compare it to modern day Syracuse. It covers the political environment, touches upon the geography of the area and how ideas and thoughts were preserved and exchanged among the thinkers during that peaceful period about 2400 yrs ago. It is well researched, with citations throughout the book as well as images of maps, diagrams, paintings, sculptures and other artifacts about the time.
Extended review: http://kitereaders.com/2014/03/17/lea...
Extended review: http://kitereaders.com/2014/03/17/lea...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews