Subject: Re: [HM] "President Garfield's Proof"
From: Herbert E. Kasube (hkasube@hilltop.bradley.edu)
Date: Wed Jan 26 2000 - 14:26:54 EST
Pat Touhey wrote:
>
> and one of my favorites, although the reference is forgotten;
>
> " ...you can never make a lawyer if you do not understand what
> 'demonstrate' means; and I left my situation in Springfield, went
> home to my father's house and stayed there till I could give any
> proposition in the six books of Euclid at sight. I then found out
> what 'demonstrate' means, and went back to my law studies."
> - Abraham Lincoln
>
The reference that I have for this story of Lincoln is Bill Dunham's
The Mathematical Universe (page 95). Also included is the story of
Garfield's proof.
Herb Kasube
Department of Mathematics
Bradley University
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