The Geometry of Rene Descartes (Dover Books on Mathematics)
by Rene Descartes
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Book Summary Information
Author: Rene DescartesTranslator: David Eugene Smith
Translator: Marcia L. Latham
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1954-06-01
ISBN: 0486600688
Number of pages: 244
Publisher: Dover Publications, Inc.
Book Reviews of The Geometry of Rene Descartes (Dover Books on Mathematics)
Book Review: Enormously important in the history of mathematics
Summary: 5 Stars
Descartes' Geometrie, published in 1637, is possibly the second most influential book in the history of mathematics, after Euclid's Elements. In it, Descartes introduces analytic geometry, that is, the connection between geometry and algebra, in order to use algebra to solve geometric locus problems. The book's influence is reflected in the fact that Descartes' notation is far closer to the notation used today than anyone else's from that period (for example, Fermat or Viete). But it is not a book for someone who is not already knowledgeable. As Descartes himself wrote, (as translated and quoted in a footnote on page 10), "In my previous writings I have tried to make my meaning clear to everybody; but I doubt if this treatise will be read by anyone not familiar with the books on geometry, so I have thought it superfluous to repeat demonstrations contained in them." The 17th century mathematicians who read La Geometrie found it difficult, both because it was in French and because of its uncompromising exposition. Thus the book only became understood after the publication in 1649 of a Latin translation with commentaries by Frans van Schooten.
For the modern reader the book is a fascinating record of the state of mathematics in the early 17th century, and the format, with Descartes' 17th century French (readily readable to someone with some knowledge of modern French) opposite the reliable English translation, is very helpful for understanding what Descartes does in the book. How can it not have five stars?
Summary of The Geometry of Rene Descartes (Dover Books on Mathematics)
The great work that founded analytical geometry. Included here is the original French text, Descartes' own diagrams, together with the definitive Smith-Latham translation. "The greatest single step ever made in the progress of the exact sciences." ? John Stuart Mill.
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