Changes

The art of compass-and-straightedge construction was invented by the [[Ancient Greeks]] in the centuries before [[Christ]]. The Greeks were not only excellent [[mathematician]]s, but also accomplished [[navigation|navigators]] — so it perhaps seemed natural to them that their mathematical drawings should involve the use of compasses. The straightedge was a later embellishment; straight edges were plentiful in the ancient world (for example: sword edges, [[oar]]s, and the foundations of [[building]]s), and the concept of a straight edge was pleasing and [[aesthetic]] to the ancient Greek mind. Many popular constructions were collected in the ''[[Element]]s'' of [[Euclid]].

The art of compass-and-straightedge construction was invented by the [[Ancient Greeks]] in the centuries before [[Christ]]. The Greeks were not only excellent [[mathematician]]s, but also accomplished [[navigation|navigators]] — so it perhaps seemed natural to them that their mathematical drawings should involve the use of compasses. The straightedge was a later embellishment; straight edges were plentiful in the ancient world (for example: sword edges, [[oar]]s, and the foundations of [[building]]s), and the concept of a straight edge was pleasing and [[aesthetic]] to the ancient Greek mind. Many popular constructions were collected in the ''[[Element]]s'' of [[Euclid]].

In modern times, compass-and-straightedge constructions were rediscovered by [[Euler]], who [[resurrected]] them from the pages of his namesake's ''Elements'' and found that their simple geometric [[truth]]s were a pleasant diversion from the [[calculus wars]] then raging between the [[Newton]]ian British and the [[Leibniz]]ian German mathematical communities. In the twentieth century, compass-and-straightedge methods have become a popular form of [[recreational mathematics]], and the technique is taught as a one-week [[unit]] in many [[middle school]] [[math]] [[class]]es.

In modern times, compass-and-straightedge constructions were rediscovered by [[Euler]], who resurrected them from the pages of his namesake's ''Elements'' and found that their simple geometric [[truth]]s were a pleasant diversion from the [[calculus wars]] then raging between the {{hs|Isaac|Newton}}ian British and the [[Leibniz]]ian German mathematical communities. In the twentieth century, compass-and-straightedge methods have become a popular form of [[recreational mathematics]], and the technique is taught as a one-week [[unit]] in many [[middle school]] [[math]] [[class]]es.

==Unsolved problems==

==Unsolved problems==