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Mathematical Treasures - Boulenger's Practical Geometry

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

Jean Boulenger (ca.1550–1636) was a Professor of Mathematics at the Royal College, Paris. His La Geometrie Pratique (1624) was written for the users of geometry: architects, engineers, masons, etc. The title page for the 1691 edition of this book is shown here.

Land measurement situations are discussed on pages 134-135.

Pages 134-135 from Boulenger's geometry

On pages 304 and 305, Boulenger instructed the reader in measuring the volume of a hollow truncated cone.

Pages 304-305 from Boulenger's geometry

These images from its George Arthur Plimpton Collection are presented through the courtesy of the Columbia University Libraries.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasures - Boulenger's Practical Geometry," Convergence (January 2020)

Mathematical Treasures from the Smith and Plimpton Collections at Columbia University