Abstract
Undoubtedly one of the early triumphs of abstract algebra was the light it shed on some classical problems of Greek mathematics, the most significant of which was referred to as “squaring the circle”. This is one of very few phrases from serious mathematics to have entered the language, though a (totally unscientific) poll of non-mathematical friends suggests that its mathematical meaning is not even remotely understood. “Something to do with πr2, is it?” is a common answer, and indeed that is correct, but it does not get to the heart of the matter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
(2006). Applications to Geometry. In: Fields and Galois Theory. Springer Undergraduate Mathematics Series. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-181-5_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-181-5_4
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-85233-986-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-84628-181-5
eBook Packages: Mathematics and StatisticsMathematics and Statistics (R0)