While reading the Education Life supplement of the Sunday New
York Times (4/4/99), I came across the following question taken from
the National Academic Quiz Tournament :
"Though Archimedes and Descartes worked extensively in
geometry,... both missed the simple formula V plus E
minus F equals 2, which this man later discovered...
identify this Swedish-born mathematician."
The formula that is referred to here is called the Euler-Descartes
formula. It was first discovered by Descartes around 1630 (see the
book Mathematics and Its History by John Stilwell). The mistake is
common. However, to call Euler Swedish is an affront to the Swiss
who have him pictured on a ten franc banknote.
Sincerely,
Jim Kiernan
Brooklyn College
P.S. The problem on p.15 can be done in fewer steps.