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

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

3. Mathematical Giants Archimedes (287-212 BC)
Nicolas Copernicus ( )
François Viète ( )
Tycho Brahe ( )
John Napier ( )
Johannes Kepler ( )
René Descartes ( )

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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. Any Questions?

20. Bibliography Images Information
Information
Brabenec, Robert. Resources for the Study of Real Analysis. The Mathematical Association of America 2004.
MacTutor History of Mathematics