Is Euclid prerequisite to Archimedes?

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A high school student interested in physics and math is exploring the works of Archimedes and Euclid. They initially believed that completing Euclid was necessary before tackling Archimedes but realized that a foundational understanding of Euclidean geometry is sufficient to start reading Archimedes. The discussion highlights that while Euclid is technically a prerequisite, practical knowledge allows for a more flexible approach. The student also expresses interest in Apollonius of Perga, noting the value of his work despite its complexity. They appreciate the resources and guidance provided by contributors in the forum, particularly highlighting the interactive version of Euclid's Elements and the insights gained from studying classic texts.
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Hi, I am a high school student interested in physics/math. I decided I wanted to read the Works of Archimedes (or at least start) before graduating. For some reason, it seemed that Euclid was prerequisite to Archimedes, and I wanted to read Euclid anyway, so I started Euclid and am about a third of the way through. I understand it pretty well (although it takes an hour to figure out one page sometimes). Then it hit me that I don't really have to finish all of Euclid before starting Archimedes. So, is Euclid prerequisite to Archimedes?
 
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technically yes, but practically you probably already know enough euclidean geometry to red archimedes. try it.
 
Okay. And I assume that it is the same for Apollonius of Perga. By the way, thank you mathwonk for putting a lot of time and effort on this site. I am sure I'm not the first kid to say that your posts (especially your "who wants to be a mathematician" thread) are very helpful.
 
Will do.
 
Wow... Great post and a great thread. Those guys were truly geniuses. I don't hear much about Apollonius of Perga. Is his book a valuable read? I recently read that part of the Elements concerning tangent lines, and it confused me for a little while until I figured out what he was really saying. Now often when I see a circle I think of how the angle it makes with a tangent line is the "smallest possible angle", and that an infinitely small change in the angle makes the line cut the circle. I'm sure there are a lot more interesting things for me to learn, as I am just a precalculus student.
 

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