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Polygons: Meister was right and Poinsot was wrong but prevailed

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Abstract

The definitions of the term “polygon” as given and used by Meister (1724–1788) in 1770 and by Poinsot (1777–1859) in 1810 are discussed. Since it is accepted that mathematicians are free to define concepts whichever way they like, the claim that one of them is right and the other wrong may appear strange. The following pages should justify the assertion of the title by pointing out some of the errors and inconsistencies in Poinsot’s work, and—more importantly—show the undesirable and harmful consequences resulting from it.

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  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-4350, USA

    Branko Grünbaum

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  1. Branko Grünbaum
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Grünbaum, B. Polygons: Meister was right and Poinsot was wrong but prevailed. Beitr Algebra Geom 53, 57–71 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13366-011-0047-5

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