MthU201 History of Mathematics

Quiz #2 Professor Gilmore

40 Minutes Feb. 15, 2007

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1. Write an essay describing the mathematics and life of Euclid. Include at least three mathematical topics or theorems in the Elements, his major work. Dates, places and other cultural information will add to your grade. Continue your essay on the back of this sheet if necessary.

2. You constructed the unique point at which the three perpendicular bisectors of the sides of a triangle intersect for homework. This point is the center of the circumscribed circle of the triangle. Give a good argument that this must be the case, using distances from points on the perpendicular bisector to the adjacent vertices (the ends of the side), so that your picture was not a lucky inaccuracy.