Episode 40 - Pappus of Alexandria - Burn the Bridges

This week, Pappus of Alexandria, a pivotal figure in 4th-century mathematics. Often considered one of the last great Greco-Roman geometers, Pappus compiled the monumental Synagogue, a comprehensive collection that sought to revive classical Greek geometry.

In this episode: A candid look at Pappus's personality and his notorious public critique of the female mathematician Pandrosion and her student. Pappus’s distinction between "plane," "solid," and the more expansive "linear" problems. Concepts like the Pappus Chain (or Steiner Chain) and his non-Euclidean approach to classic problems like doubling the cube.

Join us as we explore Pappus's legacy, his undeniable impact on the history of mathematics, and Benjamin’s honest (and sometimes scathing!) personal opinions on this complex figure. Plus, a crucial discussion about the often-overlooked women in mathematics and a personal announcement about the future of the podcast!

Keywords: Pappus, Alexandria, Greek Geometry, Synagogue, History of Mathematics, Pandrosion, Female Mathematicians, Euclidean Geometry, Analytic Geometry, Steiner Chain, Pappus Chain, Doubling the Cube, Menaechmus, Archimedes, Apollonius, Ptolemy, Theon of Alexandria, Diophantus, Descartes, Fermat, Newton, Euler, Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Mathematics Podcast, Geometry, Algebra, History of Science, Mathematical Concepts, Platonic Solids.

Hashtags: #Pappus #MathematicsHistory #GrecoRomanGeometry #AncientMaths #Podcast #TheMathematiciansPodcast #GeometryProblems #AnalyticGeometry #WomenInSTEM #MathsEducation #HistoryOfScience #Alexandria #STEM #ClassicalMathematics