Finding Dimensions of Bodies

The second longest chapter, Chapter 6 may be described as Fibonacci’s contribution on solid geometry. It offers a plethora of guidelines for finding the various dimensions of all sort of three-dimensional bodies, with alternate methods for many cases not to overlook proofs for many assertions. After a set of definitions that identifies foci of interest, Fibonacci announced the purpose and tripartite division of the chapter, to measure the dimensions of parallelepipeds, pyramids, and spheres. Thereafter he named all the Euclidean propositions from Elements, Books XI through XV [sic], that he might use. From there on he subjected his reader to methods for finding the surface areas and volumes of these figures: parallelepipeds, wedges, columns, pyramids, cones, spheres, and other solids. Noteworthy is that he used both arithmetic and algebraic tools to find dimensions. Fibonacci concluded the exercise with a discussion about finding the volumes of solids inscribed in one sphere, whereby knowing the volume of one inscribed solid the volume of another inscribed in the same or another sphere could be found. A few details about the three parts enhance their value.