Elements of Geometry
work by Legendre
Also known as: “Éléments de géométrie”
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contribution to parallel postulate
- In mathematics: Foundations of geometry
was Adrien-Marie Legendre’s textbook Éléments de géométrie (Elements of Geometry and Trigonometry), the first edition of which appeared in 1794. Legendre presented an elegant demonstration that purported to show that the sum of the angles of a triangle is equal to two right angles. He believed that he had…
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discussed in biography
- In Adrien-Marie Legendre
…published Éléments de géométrie (Elements of Geometry), a reorganization and simplification of the propositions from Euclid’s Elements that was widely adopted in Europe, even though it is full of fallacious attempts to defend the parallel postulate. Legendre also gave a simple proof that π is irrational, as well as…
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