The Time of Archimedes and Other Giants (pre-1660) John Sevier Jennifer Wilkinson

“If I had seen further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.” Isaac Newton

Mathematical Giants Archimedes (287-212 BC) Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) François Viète (1540-1603) Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) John Napier (1550-1617) Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) René Descartes (1596-1650)

Archimedes (287-212 BC) Born in Syracuse, Sicily Studied with Euclid Inventor Mathematician Astronomer Writer Consultant to the King

Archimedes is known for… Perfecting a method of integration. An accurate approximation of π. Accurately approximating square roots. Discovering fundamental theorems with gravity. Archimedes principle.

Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Born in Torun, Poland University of Krakow Studied Latin, math, astronomy, geography, philosophy University of Bologna Studied Canon Law Padua Studied medicine and astronomy

Copernicus is known for… Translating Greek poetry into Latin. Theory of a universe with the sun at the center. Publishing De Revolutionibus orbium coelestium in 1543.

François Viète(1540-1603) Born in Vendée, France Studied at University of Poitiers Worked under Charles IX then Henry III and IV Lawyer Private tutor First published math work in 1571

Viète is known for… Solved Roomen’s problem. Calculated π to 10 decimal places. Represented π as an infinite product. Introduced the first systematic algebraic notation. Using letters to represent quantities both known and unknown. The term coefficient. Methods for solving 2nd, 3rd, and 4th degree equations.

Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) Born in Knutsor, Denmark Lived with foster parents Studied at the University of Copenhagen Law and Astronomy His nose was cut off during an argument

Brach is known for… Theory of the Solar System based on a stationary Earth. Accurate calculations which lead to many discoveries by Kepler. Rudolphine Tables 3 Laws of Planetary Motion

John Napier (1550-1617) Born in Edinburgh, Scotland Attended St. Andrews University Inventor Writer Studied math as a hobby Protestant fanatic

Napier is known for… Inventing logarithms. Found exponential expressions for trigonometric functions. Introducing decimal notation for fractions. Inventing Napier’s bones.

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) Born in Weil der Strat, Holy Roman Empire Attended University of Tübingen Mathematical Sciences Greek and Hebrew Strong faith in God

Kepler is known for… Three laws of planetary motion. His work in optics. Discovering two regular polyhedra. First proof of how logarithms worked. Rudolphine Tables. Devising a method of find volumes of solids of revolution.

René Descartes (1596-1650) Born in Touraine, France Educated at Jesuit College of La Flèche Studied classics, logic and philosophy Member of the Bavarian Army Died of pneumonia

Descartes is known for… Writing La géométrie Application of algebra in geometry Cartesian geometry Publishing Principia Philosophiae in 1644 The Principles of Human Knowledge The Principles of Material Things Of the Visible World The Earth

Laying the groundwork for calculus Improved methods of calculations. Appropriate symbolism and notation. Applications needing an explanation. Specific examples to motivate general results. A spirit of inquiry and curiosity among many individuals.

Any Questions?

Bibliography Images Information http://www.math.tamu.edu/~dallen/history/archimed/archimed.html http://www.jamd.com/image/g/3471022 http://www.jjhc.info/napierjohn1617port.htm http://faculty.uml.edu/enelson/modern07.htm http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/thomas_br/chapter1/medialib/custom3/bios/viete.htm http://www.nada.kth.se/~fred/tycho/summary.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001225.html Information Brabenec, Robert. Resources for the Study of Real Analysis. The Mathematical Association of America 2004. MacTutor History of Mathematics