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A Very Short History of Mathematics*
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 November 2016
Extract
Mathematics is very much older than History, which begins in + 1066, as is well known ; for the first mathematician of any note was a Greek named Zeno, who was born in – 494, just 1560 years earlier. Zeno is memorable for proving three theorems: (i) that motion is impossible; (ii) that Achilles can never catch the tortoise (he failed to notice that this follows from his first theorem); and (iii) that half the time may be equal to double the time. This was not considered a very good start by the other Greeks, so they turned their attention to Geometry.
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- Copyright © The Mathematical Association 1950
Footnotes
*
Eureka, the journal of the Cambridge Archimedeans Society, is always a delight for its freshness and vitality. We are indebted to its Editor and to Messrs. Sleseenger and Curtis for permission to reprint this jeu d'esprit from Eureka, No. 12. Copies of the number can be obtained from the Editor, Eureka, The Arts School, Bene't Street, Cambridge, price 1s. 6d. post free
References
Page 82 of note † See Sellars and yeatman, “1066 And All That,” or any similar standard work.
Page 82 of note ‡ This includes the year 0.
Page 83 of note * Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.