Subject: [HM] Notation: early uses of solidus and forward slash
From: Hans Lausch (hans.lausch@sci.monash.edu.au)
Date: Mon Feb 14 2000 - 18:56:44 EST
I have two questions regarding mathematical notation:
1. In a table of astronomical observations made in 1753 at Rostock, a
symbol occurs in superscript which looks like an integral sign (or
solidus) and apparently stands for 60 degrees, while degrees (less than
60), minutes, and seconds are denoted as usual. I wonder whether anyone
else has come across this notation and where it may have originated.
2. While Cajori in his history of mathematical notation (vol.1, p. 313)
encountered the diagonal fraction bar (in lieu of the horizontal
fraction line) in Gazetas de Mexico of 1784, I have seen earlier uses of
that symbol both in handwriting and in print, e.g. in Allgemeine
Deutsche Bibliothek, a Berlin review journal. Both the solidus
(resembling the integral sign, as referred to by Cajori) and the modern
"ordinary" slash occur in those earlier sources. Again, I wonder whether
anyone else has made similar observations.
Hans Lausch
Department of Mathematics and Statistics,
Monash University,
Clayton, 3168,
Australia
fax: +61-3-9905 4403
phone: +61-3-9905 4477
Hans.Lausch@sci.monash.edu.au
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