Apollonius of Perga

Mathematician, Author

1969 – 1969

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Who was Apollonius of Perga?

Apollonius of Perga [Pergaeus] was a Greek geometer and astronomer noted for his writings on conic sections. His innovative methodology and terminology, especially in the field of conics, influenced many later scholars including Ptolemy, Francesco Maurolico, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, and René Descartes. It was Apollonius who gave the ellipse, the parabola, and the hyperbola the names by which we know them. The hypothesis of eccentric orbits, or equivalently, deferent and epicycles, to explain the apparent motion of the planets and the varying speed of the Moon, is also attributed to him. Apollonius' theorem demonstrates that the two models are equivalent given the right parameters. Ptolemy describes this theorem in the Almagest XII.1. Apollonius also researched the lunar history, for which he is said to have been called Epsilon. The crater Apollonius on the Moon is named in his honor.

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Born
Dec 31, 1969
Perga
Also known as
  • Apollonius
Profession
Died
Dec 31, 1969

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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