Re: [HM] Jacobi's secrets

Julio Gonzalez Cabillon (jgc@adinet.com.uy)
Tue, 06 Apr 1999 21:14:33 -0300

In a message dated 24/03/1999, Jim Propp wrote:

> Another piece of history from Franz' book that I'd like to know more about
> concerns the following passage (from page 309):
>
> "... Jacobi often claimed to be in possession of results on quintic
> residuacity, but refused to share any details even when asked to do
> so."

At first sight this seems to me to be an overstatement, but I would
be very glad to know further of these "often" claims. Which are the
authoritative sources to the point? ...

Julio Gonzalez Cabillon

> I know nothing about Jacobi's life or personality; what reason would
> he have had for keeping his results secret? (Perhaps it was less a
> case of "refused to share" than "didn't want to take the time to
> write down"?)
>
> Jim Propp
> Department of Mathematics
> University of Wisconsin
>