Diagram for doubling the cube
Date
1661
Creator
William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker of Lyons (1620 - 1684, British) , Mathematician
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p2
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 207mm
width (page): 150mm
width (page): 150mm
Subject
Description
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 4 September 1661, Sir Paul Neile brought in a paper, endorsed by the King, of Thomas Hobbes's proposal for how to double the cube (stated as finding two proportionals between two straight lines given). This diagram is from Hobbes's proof. William Brouncker was asked to examine the proof, which he here showed was erroneous.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 4 September 1661, ‘A proposition of Mr. Hobbes for finding two mean proportionals between two strait lines given, was delivered to the Society by Sir Paul Neile from the king, indorsed with this majesty’s own hand, and was ordered to be registered; as was afterwards the answer to the problem, by lord viscount Brouncker’ (Birch 1:42). The date on which this was entered in the Register Book is given as 1 October, probably to await Brouncker's refutation. The minutes must also have been written after this date, as they refer to Brouncker's 'answer'.
Associated place