J. Zaragosa's centrum minimum, an early version of barycentric geometry (Q1329046)

The idea of applying the properties of the center of gravity for the obtainment of geometrical results has been first applied by Archimedes; later on, Giovanni Ceva introduced the idea of associated weights to points for the calculation of ratios. The idea of centrum minimum -- a point defined strictly geometrically -- belongs to Joseph Zaragoza. In his attempt to demonstrate an Apollonius' geometrical locus, Zaragoza developed a theory that may be considered as an early version of the barycentric theory stated 150 years later by F. Möbius, in Leipzig, in 1827. Zaragoza aimed mainly at getting a method for obtaining the center and the radius in the case (more general) of non-coplanar points, which explains his having introduced the concept of centrum minimum, permitting further introduction of a ``barycentric method'', geometrical in nature. This leads to a geometrical construction based, among others, on the association to each polygon of a ``segment'' playing the corresponding role played by height in rectangles. Therefore, Zaragoza's main merit is that he included in traditional Euclid's geometry the concept of centrum minimum, the properties of which are those of the centre of gravity.