Euclid Division Lemma: Origins & Legacy

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In summary, the term "Euclidean division" was introduced in the 20th century as a shorthand for "division of Euclidean rings". However, it is believed that Euclid, the Greek mathematician and author of the "Elements", was not aware of the existence and uniqueness theorem related to this type of division. The name "Euclid lemma" may have been given to honor Euclid's significant contributions to geometry and mathematics in general, as his work was widely studied and considered foundational for over 2000 years.
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  • #2
Suyogya said:
If the euclid division lemma was not discovered by euclid himself, then why was the name "euclid lemma"? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclidean_division#History)
From the same article, "it seems that he did not know the existence and uniqueness theorem". My interpretation is that he (Euclid) could perform the division, but was unaware of the details of existence and uniqueness.
 
  • #3
Further down in the same section of the wiki it says:
Wikipedia said:
The term "Euclidean division" was introduced during the 20th century as a shorthand for "division of Euclidean rings".
 
  • #4
A case of Stigler's law of eponymy: Nothing is named by its inventor/discoverer, including this law.
Often things are named after people who made something more widely known, or extended existing knowledge a lot.
 
  • #5
Euclidean are usually all geometric concepts, a flat geometry until Bolyai. His Elements were for 2000 years the first and most important books in mathematics. It is somehow natural to name Euclid's algorithm after him, as it is basically a geometric question.
 

What is the Euclid Division Lemma?

The Euclid Division Lemma, also known as the Euclidean Division Algorithm, is a fundamental theorem in number theory that states that given two positive integers, there exists a unique quotient and remainder when one is divided by the other.

Who is Euclid and what is his legacy?

Euclid was a Greek mathematician who lived around 300 BC and is often referred to as the "Father of Geometry." His legacy includes his famous work, "The Elements," which is a compilation of mathematical proofs and theories that have greatly influenced the development of mathematics.

What is the significance of the Euclid Division Lemma in mathematics?

The Euclid Division Lemma is significant because it provides a method for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers, which is a crucial concept in number theory and has many applications in fields such as cryptography and computer science.

What are some examples of applications of the Euclid Division Lemma?

Some examples of applications of the Euclid Division Lemma include finding the simplest form of a fraction, determining whether two numbers are relatively prime, and solving problems involving modular arithmetic.

How is the Euclid Division Lemma related to the Euclidean algorithm?

The Euclid Division Lemma is the basis for the Euclidean algorithm, which is an efficient method for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers. The algorithm uses repeated applications of the division lemma to simplify the problem until a solution is found.

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