Article Title
Document Type
Research Paper
Abstract
Archimedes, born nearly 2,300 years ago, is a man of legacy within the mathematical and scientific world. Known for his work in the field of hydrostatics, mathematical calculus, and geometry, Archimedes’ mathematical advancements went unrivaled for 2,000 years until the time of Isaac Newton [5]. Archimedes’ Cattle Problem is equally a test of mathematical prowess in modern history as it was during its inception. Born in Syracuse, many scholars believe that Archimedes studied in Alexandria as a young man. It was there that he was taught by the followers of Euclid and grew to know many of his life-long contemporaries such as Eratosthenes of Cyrene and Conon of Samos [4]. It is Eratosthenes, alongside other Alexandrian mathematicians, to whom he posed his famous “Cattle Problem”: “If thou art diligent and wise, O stranger, compute the number of cattle of the Sun, who once upon a time grazed on the fields of the Thrinacian isle of Sicily, divided into four herds of different colours, one milk white, another a glossy black, a third yellow and the last dappled. In each herd were bulls, mighty in number according to these proportions..."
Genre/Form
articles
Recommended Citation
Hill, Austin
(2014)
"Archimedes' Cattle Problem,"
Occam's Razor: Vol. 4, Article 4.
Available at:
https://cedar.wwu.edu/orwwu/vol4/iss1/4
Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Mathematics, Greek
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Subjects - Names (LCNAF)
Archimedes
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Type
Text
