[HM] First iteration use

James C. Taylor (jctaylor@igc.apc.org)
Sun, 13 Sep 1998 13:22:59 -0600

Can anyone help me place the first historic use(s) of iterations of the form:
(read x[0] as x sub 0)

x[1] = f(x[0])
x[2] = f(x[1])
x[3] = f(x[2])
.
.
.

The high school at which I teach is performing Stoppard's "Arcadia", and
there is some discussion of this process and its place in the history of
mathematics. I would be interested not only in dates, but in people,
context(s), and references.

Thanks!
James

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James C. Taylor
Computer Science and Information Technologies Department
Santa Fe Preparatory School
1101 Camino de la Cruz Blanca
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-1829 x287
(505) 982-2897 FAX
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