On the Archimedean characterization of parabolas

Abstract

Archimedes knew that the area between a parabola and any chord $AB$ on the parabola is four thirds of the area of triangle $\Delta ABP$ where P is the point on the parabola at which the tangent is parallel to $AB$. We consider whether this property (and similar ones) characterizes parabolas. We present five conditions which are necessary and sufficient for a strictly convex curve in the plane to be a parabola.