Paper, 'To find two mean proportionalls betweene two straight lines given' by [Thomas Hobbes]
Reference number: CLP/1/14
Date: 17th century
Description
To find two mean proportionals between two straight lines given.
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.
Includes equations and a diagram.
Subject: Geometry
- Reference number
- CLP/1/14
- Earliest possible date
- 17th century
- Physical description
- Ink on paper
- Page extent
- 3 pages
- Format
- Manuscript
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Citation
Paper, 'To find two mean proportionalls betweene two straight lines given' by [Thomas Hobbes], 17th century, CLP/1/14, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_1_14/paper-to-find-two-mean-proportionalls-betweene-two-straight-lines-given-by-thomas-hobbes, accessed on 16 June 2025
Link to this record
https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_1_14/paper-to-find-two-mean-proportionalls-betweene-two-straight-lines-given-by-thomas-hobbes
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Related Records
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'Mr Hobbs's [Thomas Hobbes] Proposition To find two meane proportionalls betweene two straight lines Given'
Reference number: RBO/1/20
Hierarchy
This item is part of:
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Classified papers: volume 1 concerning 'Arithmetick, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry'
1669-1731 Reference number: CLP/1
Related Fellows
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William Brouncker
Mentioned
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Classified Papers
The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.
Dates: 1592 - 1741
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