Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Euclidean algorithm/archive1: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:52, 14 May 2009

Revision as of 15:57, 14 May 2009

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**::That's a good suggestion, and very helpful. I toyed with the wording beforehand, but I didn't come up with anything as good as yours. I've uploaded a third wording that may combine the best of our efforts. [[User:Proteins|Proteins]] ([[User talk:Proteins|talk]]) 04:13, 10 May 2009 (UTC)

**:::Ah, much better! More direct than mine, too. I'm confused about the last bit, though: "use of the technical term ἀνθυφαίρεσις (''anthyphairesis'', reciprocal subtraction) in Euclid and Aristotle (''Topics'' IV)" Did Euclid and Aristotle collaborate on a book called "Topics IV"? What's going on here? --'''[[User:Cryptic C62|Cryptic C62]] · [[User talk: Cryptic C62|Talk]]''' 03:32, 11 May 2009 (UTC)

**::::That interpretation didn't occur to me, thanks! The ''Topics'' reference was just a clue for the reader where to find Aristotle's comments on reciprocal subtraction. Euclid and Aristotle didn't co-author anything, at least to my knowledge; IIRC, Euclid was much younger than Aristotle. The passage now reads "The algorithm may even pre-date Eudoxus, judging from the use of the technical term ἀνθυφαίρεσις (anthyphairesis, reciprocal subtraction) in works by Euclid and Aristotle." [[User:Proteins|Proteins]] ([[User talk:Proteins|talk]]) 15:57, 14 May 2009 (UTC)

**<s>"Euclid's algorithm was re-invented both in India and in China" "re-invent" often implies that an existing concept was significantly improved. I think "independently developed" or "independently discovered" might serve better.</s>

**::Good idea, made additional minor changes in wording. [[User:Proteins|Proteins]] ([[User talk:Proteins|talk]]) 03:35, 9 May 2009 (UTC)