Metius

Adriaan Adriaanszoon Metius ( born December 9, 1571 Alkmaar, † September 6, 1635 in Franeker ) was a Dutch mathematician, surveyor and astronomer. After Metius a lunar crater was named.

Adriaan Adriaansz. was nicknamed Metius derived measure from the Dutch word Meten =. The name Metius went over on his father and his brother Adriaen Anthonisz Jacob Adriaensz Metius.

Life

Metius, was born as the son of the Dutch mathematician, cartographer, land surveyor and mayor of Alkmaar, Adriaen Anthonisz. . His brother Jacob Metius provided optical devices forth.

Metius attended the Latin school in Alkmaar and studied from 1589 at the newly founded University of Franeker. From 1594, he continued his studies at Leiden University, where he studied with Willibrord van Roijen Snell ( Snell ) and Ludolph van Ceulen.

For a short time he worked under Tycho Brahe on the island of Ven. He then went to Rostock and Jena, where he gave lectures at universities. After his return to Alkmaar he assisted his father, who was employed as an engineer and inspector of fortifications in the Netherlands. ( The forts have been Schenkenschanz, Bourtange and Coevorden, near the border will be developed according to his plans ). Alongside he taught mathematics in the city of Franeker, especially in connection with the training of surveyors and inspectors attachment.

1598, he was appointed associate professor at the University of Franeker, two years later appointed professor of mathematics, navigation, military engineering and astronomy. Metius taught until 1632 at the University and was allowed to teach in the local language instead of in Latin. 1603 and 1632 he was rector of the university.

Work

Metius published treatises on the astrolabe, on astronomical and mathematical subjects.

In his book Arithmeticae et geometriae practica, published in 1611 in Franeker, he gave the value for the mathematical constant π with at 3.1415094. 1573 Metius ' father had calculated an approximate value for π. Metius himself discovered after 900 years to Chongzhi more random the value of 355/113 for π when he made the arithmetic mean of 377/120 and 333/106, which had given his father for the district number.

The value is in the literature also called Metius value.

In addition, he built astronomical instruments and developed a new variant of Jacob rod. Metius did not believe in astrology, but it should have plenty of time for alchemical studies and experiments, especially when searching for the Philosopher's Stone spent.

The lunar crater Metius is named after him.

Trivia

In Vermeer The Astronomer image the book Institutiones astronomicae Geographicae of Metius lies open on the table.

Writings

  • Doctrinae sphericae libri. Franeker, 1598.
  • Universiae astronomicae institutional, Franeker 1605
  • Arithmeticae et geometriae practica, Franeker 1611
  • Practice novae geometriae. Franeker 1613.
  • De usu genuino utriusqve globin tractatus. Franeker 1624th
  • Problema astronomica. Suffering 1625th
  • Calendarium perpetuum. Rotterdam 1927.
  • Institutiones astronomicae Geographicae.
  • Opera astronomica. Amsterdam 1633rd
  • Manuals arithmeticae & geometricae ... 1633rd
  • Arithmeticae libri duo: et geometriae libri VI. 1640th
Metius (crater) Lunar craters Zu Chongzhi Alchemy Johannes Vermeer The Astronomer (Vermeer) Integrated Authority File
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