Euclid of Alexandria also referred to as the father of geometry, is one of the brilliant minds as far as mathematics is concerned. He gathered knowledge from previous Greek mathematicians to create his masterpiece, the elements, which became one of the most influential books of all time. It entails vast knowledge in the field of number, geometric and arithmetic theory. It is important to note that this book was divided into different subjects based on the area of exploration he had picked, covering topics such as Plane geometry, solid geometry, magnitude and ratios, and whole numbers ( Hayhurst, 2006 ).
Euclid explored elements by establishing the foundation of axioms, leading him to develop a total of 465 propositions which progressed from the principles he had previously founded on the synthetic approach ( Campbell, Hayhurst, 2016 ). Even though he analyzed mathematical concepts in general, he was very specific about geometry and as such, this formed the basis of his entire life work. His examination of elements led him to develop 10 axioms which were believed to be postulated. These were divided into five sets which he went on to prove before publicizing them.
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The first group of postulates was regarded as common notions including the following.
If things are equal to the same thing, then it means that they are equal to each other.
Whenever an equal is added to an equal, then the result is equal.
Whenever an equal is subtracted from an equal, then the remainder is equal.
If things coincide with each other, then they are equal.
The whole is always greater than the part.
All the remaining postulates were directly related to geometry.
For any line segment, it is possible to draw a circle using the segment as the radius and one endpoint as the center ( Euclid, Simson, & Tate, 2005 ).
Straight lines can be drawn between any two points.
Finite lines can be indefinitely extended in a straight line.
All right angles are the same (congruent)
If a straight line falling across two other straight lines results in the sum of the angles on the same side less than two right angles, then the two straight lines, if extended indefinitely, meet on the same side as the side where the angle sums are less than two right angles ( Hayhurst, 2006 ).
Euclid was very famous for his contribution to mathematics because he used logic to prove every theorem that he explored making him one of the greatest mathematicians who ever lived.
References
Campbell, J., & Hayhurst, C. (2016). Euclid: The father of geometry . New York: Rosen Publishing.
Euclid., Simson, R., & Tate, T. (2005). The first three books of Euclid's Elements of geometry: From the text of Dr. Robert Simson, together with various useful theorems and problems as geometrical exercises on each book . Belle Fourche, S.D.: Kessinger.
Hayhurst, C. (2006). Euclid: The great geometer . New York: Rosen Central. New York: Rosen Central.
