Sir ---

Peter Thonemann in "Miracles of survival" (March 30) underestimates the 
degree to which the works of the great Greek mathematicians are remembered 
and honored in current mathematics. It is certainly not correct to say 
that they "live on anonymously". In mathematical research papers and 
textbooks written yesterday, you can find references to the Euclidean 
metric, Euclidean spaces, the Euclidean algorithm, the Pythagorean 
theorem, the Archimedean property, Archimedean solids, Platonic solids, 
Diophantine equations, the circles of Appolonius, Ptolemy's theorem, and 
Pappus' theorem.

Ernest Davis
Professor of Computer Science
New York University
New York, NY  10012