Definition:Plato's Geometrical Number/Mistake

Source Work

1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers:

The Dictionary

$216$

1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.):

The Dictionary

$216$

Mistake

The famous and notorious number of Plato occurs in an obscure passage in The Republic, $\text{viii}$, $546$, $\text {B - D}$ ... Adams eventually reaches the conclusion that the number intended in the quoted passage is $216$ as the sum of the cubes of the sides of the triangle ... [J. Adams, The Republic of Plato, CUP, 1929]

J. Adams appears to be a mistake. An internet search reveals that there appears to be no such work.

It is probable that James Adam is the author referred to here. There does exist a $1929$ edition of the work of that name by that author.

Sources

• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $216$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $216$