Mathematics Throughout The Ages: Witold Wiȩsław Geometry in Poland in XV - XVIII Centuries
Mathematics Throughout The Ages: Witold Wiȩsław Geometry in Poland in XV - XVIII Centuries
Mathematics Throughout The Ages: Witold Wiȩsław Geometry in Poland in XV - XVIII Centuries
Witold Wiȩsław
Geometry in Poland in XV - XVIII centuries
In: Eduard Fuchs (editor): Mathematics throughout the ages. Contributions from the summer school
and seminars on the history of mathematics and from the 10th and 11th Novembertagung on the
history and philosophy of mathematics, Holbaek, Denmark, October 28-31, 1999, and Brno, the Czech
Republic, November 2-5, 2000. (English). Praha: Prometheus, 2001. pp. 51–66.
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51
Witold Wiȩslaw
It seems that the presented proof is the simplest known proof of the
Ptolemy Theorem.
Mathematics can also be found in Chapter III (Book III), where
Copernicus described the curve obtained by moving of the poles of the
Earth, a suitable algebraic curve of degree four. In Chapter VII (Book
VI) he applies arithmetic mean to the results of experiments.
He calculated tables of legths of chords: subα = 2r sin α2 , taking
r = 100.000.
54 Witold Wiȩslaw
holds for every positive integer n, to mention only half of them. His
interest in geometry was concentrated on the star-shaped polygons and
on filling the plane by regular polygons. In [4] he stated that the plane
can be paved by regular polygons with the number of sides equal only
to 3, 4, and 6. He tried to explain in the paper why the bees prefer the
last possibility. Recall here that eight years later Johann Kepler in
Harmonices Mundi found how to pave the plane with different regular
polygons.
right angle). In another place he states that the side and the diagonal
of a square are not commensurable.
A much more interesting (but not too much) is the book [8]. Part I:
De Lineae Dimensione presents not only different linear measures from
the ancient times and their applications, but also some geographical in-
formations. Part II: De Superficierum mensuratione presents fundamen-
tal algorithms for measuring plane figures, i.e.: Aream circuli invenire
(Measure the surface of a circle), Triangulo dato aequale parallelogram-
mum constituere (Construct a parallelogram equal to a given triangle
[with equal surface]), De Coni dimensione (Measure a cone) etc.
Papers of above type appeared often, but they are not too much
important.
Archytekt Polski is the first text from the mechanics written in Polish
language. Praxis nova is the Latin version of selected parts of Geome-
try. Book 4 deals with the perpetuum mobile. Books 5 and 6 are from
Catholic teology. I shall not discuss them here.
Geometra Polski is divided into three Books, each of which contains
chapters called Amusements [Zabawy]. Theorems are called Properties.
Proofs, called Demonstrations, are rather seldom. At the beginning he
states, that the proofs of obvious facts are not necessary. However, there
are often references to Euclid, Archimedes, Apollonius. Each book
of Geometra polski contains Polish and Latin terminology with short
explanations. Geometrical terms, definitions and theorems are put to-
gether with very practical remarks. The book has chapters dealing with
astronomy, cartography, geodesy and geography. He describes many
practical instruments. There are also many tables of measure systems,
money systems in the neighbour countries etc. In Books II and III there
are short verses describing some fundamental algorithms, e.g. an algo-
rithm for calculating square roots.
Contents of Geometra Polski:
Amusement VII teaches how to measure any lines which are either
long, high or deep.
Amusement XI divides any field and plane figures into any parts [ . . . ]
EL2 = LT 2 + ET 2 = ET × T C + ET 2 = ET (T C + ET ) =
11
= ET × EC = ( d)d = πd2 ,
14
22
implying Archimedes approximation for the ludolfina: π = 7 .
II) Another exercise from [7]:
Draw a line from a given point D on the side CL in any triangle
CP L dividig the trinagle into equal parts. Construction is given in the
figure. Let H be the middle point of CL. Draw a line HN parallel to
DP . Then CDN P and DN L are equal (i.e. have equal areas).
62 Witold Wiȩslaw
The constructions are not new. However, Solski selected them and
presented in an elegant form.
1786 for the first time a notion and the sign LIMES, writing it as LIM
(Exposition lmentaire des Principes des Calculs Suprieurs. l’Academie
Royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres, pur l’Anne 1786. Berlin). One
of Lhuilier’s most important results is a generalization of Euler’s for-
mula for polyhedrons. Euler remarked in 1750 (a letter to Christian
Goldbach from 14th November 1750) that for any polyhedron without
“holes” the formula
H +S−A=2
holds. (H stands for the number of sides of the polyhedron, S for the
number of its vertices, and A for the number of its edges). Lhuillier
remarked in 1812 that Euler’s formula holds only for polyhedrons with
genus zero. In other cases, when the polyhedron has genus n (i.e. with
n “holes”), the formula
H + S − A = 2 − 2n
80. Theorem 2. In every Triangle the sum of its three angles is equal to
two right angles. The proof is finished by the remark:
V. On Prisms.
VII. On Cylinders.
VIII. On Cones.
IX. On Spheres.
X. On similar Bodies.
The book (either of its parts) contains no exercises for the pupils.
However, it was typical in textbooks on geometry before XIX century.
(Digressio) On the method called in Latin Methodus exhaustionis.
The book was difficult also for teachers. Józef Czech, professor
of mathematics at many schools, e.g. at Cracow Academy, decided in
this situation to translate Euclid’s Elements (Wilno 1807; next edition
1817). However, he only translated eight Books containing pure geome-
try. Thus till now we have no translation of full Euclid’s Elements into
Polish.
Geometry in Poland in XV–XVIII Centuries 65
References
[1] Mag. Martini de Żórawica alias ”Martinus rex de Premislia” vocitati GEOME-
TRIAE PRACTICAE seu Artis mensurationum Tractatus. [circa 1450]. [Polish
translation as: Marcina Króla z Przemyśla GEOMETRIA PRAKTYCZNA.
wydal L.Birkenmajer. Warszawa 1895.
[9] Simon Lhuillier. Geometryá dlá Szkól Národowych. Czȩść I. W Krakowie 1780
Roku. [Tlumaczyl Andrzej Gawroński] (wyd II, 1785) Cena Zl.3.
[10] Simon Lhuillier. Geometryá dlá Szkól Národowych. Czȩść II. W Drukarni Nad-
worny J. K. Mci. Roku 1781. (wyd. II, 1785) Cena Zl.1 i gro.3 sreb.
[13] Jan Śniadecki. Rachunku algebraicznego TEORYA [. . . ] TOM II. w którym siȩ
przez zrównaniá nieoznaczoné tlómacza̧ wlasno’ sci linii i powierzchni krzyzych.
W Krakowie w Drukarni Szkoly Glównéy 1783.
Witold Wiȩslaw
Instytut Matematyczny
Uniwersytetu Wroclawskiego
plac Grunwaldzki 2/4
50-384 Wroclaw
Poland
e-mail: [email protected]