Diophantus of alexandria riddle answer book

The puzzle seems first to have appeared in the the greek anthology book xiv. The only dates known about diophantuss life are obtained as a solution to an arithmetical riddle contained in the greek anthology, which gives thirtythree for his wedding age, thirtyeight for. Two mathematicians just solved a decadesold math riddle and. Two mathematicians just solved a decadesold math riddle and possibly the meaning of life. Alternative solution for the diophantus age riddle good day, people of rmath. His life story is not known in detail however we do have some dates acquired from a mathematical puzzle known as diophantuss riddle. We know little about this greek mathematician from alexandria, except that he lived around 3rd century a. Diophantus, we may conclude that diophantus and anatolius are contemporaries, and perhaps dionysius, to whom arithmetica is dedicated, is indeed the same person who became a bishop of alexandria around 248265 ad. Of later greek mathematicians, especially noteworthy is diophantus of alexandria flourished c.

This deceptively simple stumper is known as a diophantine equation. It comes from the greek anthology, a collection of puzzles compiled by metrodorus in about ad 500, and purports to tell how long diophantus lived in the form of a riddle engraved on his tombstone. These were often expressed in verse or as riddles like this. A single word which is versatile, it can be a letter, unknown to the problem, a variable, a target, a love, an intercept, and a type of chro. He did numerous things for the world of mathematics. I got a false book the kind where you put stuff inside and im making a cover for it. Diophantus of alexandria was an alexandrian hellenistic mathematician, who was the author. The problem was apparently engraved on a tombstone in the time of the greek mathematician diophantus who lived in alexandria somewhere between 150 bc and 364 ad. This puzzle implies that diophantus age x can be expressed as.

Riddle is copied wrong corrected and solution below. Diophantus was probably greek and he lived in ancient alexandria. Alternative solution for the diophantus age riddle. Greek mathematics, hero of alexandria, diophantus of alexandria. When the fourminute timer runs out this time eight minutes have elapsed, the sevenminute hourglass has been running for one minute. The dating of his activity to the middle of the third century derives exclusively from a letter of michael psellus eleventh century. Diophantuss book text book is wonderful if one wants to learn about greek mathematics by puzzling through and by attempting to follow how he solved a lot of complex, complicated algebra problems. Diophantus of alexandria was an alexandrian hellenistic mathematician, who was the author of a series of books called arithmetica, many of which are now lost. Diophantes was a hellenistic greek mathematician who lived around 200 ad. Diophantuss riddle is a poem that encodes a mathematical problem. However, there remains a riddle that describes the spans of diophantus s life. Without question at least to me, when a riddle gives multiple clues to the answer it seems as if the riddle becomes more difficult to figure out.

We are not even sure of his nationality though he was probably not a greek or his dates, though it is generally accepted that he lived in the third century ad. Alexandria was the center of greek culture and knowledge and diophantus. His claim to fame comes from substituting symbols for numbers and operations in equations, thus creating algebra, but everything else we know about his life comes from a single algebraic riddle. Four hang, four sprang, two point the way, two to ward off dogs, one dangles after, always rather dirty. This mathematical riddle explains all we know of the father of. He is famous for two works, both of which are unfinished. Loads of free book riddles and answers suitable as clues for treasure hunts and scavenger hunts. Most of his work dealt with algebraic equations and their solution. When the fourminute hourglass runs out, turn it over. Diophantus back to the cool math games we know little about this greek mathematician from alexandria, called the father of algebra, except that he lived around 3rd century a. How to solve the problem that determines the age of diophantus. Apr 02, 2016 probably sometime between ad 201 and 215, alexandrian greek mathematician diophantus of alexandria was born. All of the riddles are old and probably known to others but enjoyable to try and get you friends to answer them if they are not into riddles. Heath briefly goes through the histories of the various translations.

Diophantus project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Altough little is known about his life, according to his riddle, he got married when he was 33, had a son who lived for 42 years and was 84 when he died. A study in the history of greek algebra paperback april 30, 2009. At the end of the following 17 of his life diophantus got. And at least we have some of diophantes books of algebra, titled. This equation also assumes that diophantus son died at an age equal to. Much of our knowledge of the life of diophantus is derived from a 5th century greek anthology of number games and strategy puzzles.

When the sevenminute hourglass runs out, turn it over. Now, i dont claim to be great at math, but im pretty sure that doesnt work out. I got a false bookthe kind where you put stuff inside and im making a cover for it. Diophantus wrote a thirteenvolume set of books called arithmetica of which only six. Diophantus of alexandria the father of algebra scihi. The alexandrian mathematicians hero of alexandria and diophantus continued the traditions of egypt and babylon, but diophantus s book arithmetica is on a much higher level and gives many surprising solutions to difficult indeterminate equations. The alexandrian mathematicians hero of alexandria and diophantus continued the traditions of egypt and babylon, but diophantuss book arithmetica is on a much higher level and gives many surprising solutions to difficult indeterminate equations. We know virtually nothing about the life of diophantus. Diophantus diophantus was another mathematician who lived at alexandria and about whose life very little is known. Thanks to an admirer of his, who described his life by means of an algebraic riddle, we know at least something about his life. As a 15 year old student in the netherlands who loves math, i was just casually going through some problems in my text book. A work called the definitions of the terms of geometry horoi ton geometrias onomaton, a form of introductory commentary on euclids elements, is included in a few of the extant collections of works by hero of alexandriai. Pythagorean numerology and diophantus arithmetica a. I want the cover to have two riddles, so that when you solve both of them it says lie book.

Two mathematicians just solved a decadesold math riddle. Diophantus s riddle is a poem that encodes a mathematical problem. Diophantus of alexandria, a third century mathmatician, lived onesixth of his life in childhood, onetwelfth in his youth, and oneseventh as a bachelor. Some time around ad 250 he wrote a book about solving algebraic equations. He had his first beard in the next 112 of his life. I found very little known facts about diophantuss life. Known for being the father of algebra, diophantus was an eminent alexandrian greek mathematician. Unfortunately, those books got perished over the centuries. Diophantus of alexandria, a greek mathematician, is considered by many sources to be the father of algebra. What little is known of diophantuss life is circumstantial.

Indeed, if we were to look for an example of an ideal pythagorean, diophantus would certainly qualify. He was born in alexandria somewhere between 200 and 214 bc. It is, of course, impossible to answer this question definitively. Some of the things i found though were that he studied at the university of alexandria in egypt. With all that said we are led to believe that diophantus.

Diophantus, the father of algebra, told this when ask his age. He lived in alexandria, egypt, probably from between 200 and 214 to 284 or 298 ad. From the appellation of alexandria it seems that he worked in the main scientific centre of the ancient greek world. However, an arabic manuscript in the library astani quds the holy shrine library in meshed, iran has a title claiming it is a translation by qusta ibn luqa, who died in 912, of books iv to vii of arithmetica by diophantus of alexandria. This problem is often referred to as diophantuss riddle. Diophantus academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. Ok guys, so im wrapping presents, and i need a riddle in which the answer is book as i am giving a book and need something to write in the note. He is the author of a series of classical mathematical books called arithmetica and worked with equations which we now call diophantine equations. Diophantus was an alexandrian greek mathematician, born somewhere between 200 and 214 bc. He is sometimes called the father of algebra, and wrote an influential series of books called the arithmetica, a collection of algebraic problems which greatly influenced the subsequent development of number theory.

Mar 30, 2007 diophantus back to the cool math games. Only six of the thirteen books of the arithmetica of diophantus ca. They also could solve some indeterminate equations. I found very little known facts about diophantus s life. If we take a birds eye view of arithmetica 6, we see that book i consists primarily. This book features a host of problems, the most significant of which have come to be called diophantine equations. Another type of problem which diophantus studies, this time in book iv, is to find powers between given limits. One of his greatest contributions is the book of arithmetica. Diophantus flourished in alexandria around 250 ad or not much later.

The one i use gets 10 points, thanks, your the best. He wrote countless books on the subject of mathematics and the series of books were titled airthmetica. We know little about this greek mathematician from alexandria, called the father of algebra, except that he lived around 3rd century a. It is diophantus of alexandria who is considered the father of algebra, though abu jafar muhammad ibn musa alkhwarizmi is said by some to be worthy of a share in the title. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the origin. Diophantus was a hellenistic greek or possibly egyptian, jewish or even chaldean mathematician who lived in alexandria during the 3rd century ce. If a person is a fan of riddles it is nice but very short with the answers directly beneath the riddle. We know very little about the life of the mathematician diophantus often known as the father of algebra except that he came from alexandria and he lived. However, there remains a riddle that describes the spans of diophantuss life. One is about polygonal numbers, while the other more influential work was titled arithmetica, which was the first known book to employ algebra in a modern way. Alexandria was the center of greek culture and knowledge and diophantus belonged to the silver age of alexandria. However, students should be supported to understand, and to use, an algebraic method of solution, recognising its efficiency. Of the original thirteen books of which arithmetica consisted only six have survived, though there are some who believe that four arabic books discovered in are also by diophantus. Probably sometime between ad 201 and 215, alexandrian greek mathematician diophantus of alexandria was born.

Oct 24, 2011 it is diophantus of alexandria who is considered the father of algebra, though abu jafar muhammad ibn musa alkhwarizmi is said by some to be worthy of a share in the title. I have a book of riddles with one where the answer is lie, but i cant find any with book as the answer. May 01, 20 he was born in alexandria somewhere between 200 and 214 bc. Of the original thirteen books of which arithmetica consisted only six have survived, though there are some who. Diophantus mathematician biography, contributions and facts. We know very little about the life of the mathematician diophantus often known as the father of algebra except that he came from alexandria and he lived around the year 250 ad. Some time around ad 250 he wrote a book about solving algebraic equations with a slight twist. Solving this simultaneously gives s42 as the age of the son and d84 as the age of diophantus. God gave him his boyhood onesixth of his life, one twelfth more as youth while whiskers grew rife.