Mathematical Treasures - Mascheroni's Geometry

Lorenzo Mascheroni (1750-1800) was an Italian mathematician and physicist. In 1797, he published La Geometria del Compasso, in which he proved that all Euclidean constructions can be accomplished using only a compass. Mascheroni dedicated this book to Napoleon Bonaparte, who, he knew, possessed an interest in geometry.

One of Mascheroni’s constructions with its accompanying diagram:

The images above are provided courtesy of Columbia University Libraries, George Arthur Plimpton Collection.

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