Subject: Re: [HM] About the Analytic Art.
From: Abe Shenitzer (shenitze@pascal.math.yorku.ca)
Date: Mon Aug 07 2000 - 09:48:47 EDT
Please see the article in the column "THE EVOLUTION OF...", titled "The
literal calculus of Viete and Descartes" in the MONTHLY for March 1999,
pp.260-263. (The word is the same but the two "homogeneities" are very,
very different.)
Abe Shenitzer
On Mon, 7 Aug 2000, Nimish Shah wrote:
>
> > 2. A recent publication of the MAA is "The Beginnings and Evolution
> > of Algebra" by Bashmakova and Smirnova. This book devotes 25 pages
> > (pp.75-90) to Viete. In particular, it gives a detailed description
> > of Viete's literal calculus and of its perfected form due to Descartes
> > (ibid., pp.91-93).
>
> Hi,
>
> Could you please elaborate on the last sentence "In particular ...
> 93)." What do you mean that Descartes perfected Viete's literal
> calculus, because as far as I was aware, Viete introduced the law of
> homogeneity which Descartes spoke about in 1 or 2 sentences to in La
> Geometry?
>
> Warm regards,
> Nim
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