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Proof by "accident"
Are there any examples in the history of mathematics of a mathematical proof that was found by accident, in the sence that in the effort of proving it, ending up proving something intuitively different?
Of course, I do not mean trying to prove that…
asknohope
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8
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What does "organic" mean in old texts when describing plane curves and their construction?
I've been reading about 17th and 18th century geometers and their research into plane curves, especially algebraic curves. A term that comes up frequently is "organic". By context it seems to pertain to the mechanical construction of curves, such…
brainjam
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8
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Origin / first use of $\mathbb{Z}$ (blackboard bold Z)?
I'm aware that the choice of "Z" comes from German zahlen (for "numbers"); however, I was curious to know when the dedicated font, which I believe is called "blackboard bold" was introduced?
The Wikipedia article on blackboard bold is poorly…
Rax Adaam
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8
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Who was buying prisms in 1665?
In his recollections Newton describes how he made his greatest discovery:
In August 1665, Sir I., who was not then not 24 brought at Sturbridge fair a Prism to try some experiments
upon Descartes's book on colors & when he came home he made a hole…
Alexandre Eremenko
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8
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When did physicists begin using the symbol $G$ for Newton's gravitational constant?
The Cavendish experiment was equivalent to measuring $G,$ Newton's gravitational constant. However, because physicists at the time did not write equations in the same way we do now, Cavendish didn't have the concept of $G$ and reported the results…
Mark Eichenlaub
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8
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Are there any extant letters backing up the famous anecdote about Edmund Landau and Fermat's Last Theorem?
I recall reading in several sources the story about the letter "template" with which Edmund Landau used to answer individuals that sent him their "proofs" of Fermat's Last Theorem... According to what we read in Simon Singh's "Fermat's Last…
José Hdz. Stgo.
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8
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Name of Polaris before it became a pole star?
It seems that all stars as bright or brighter than Polaris have names dating to ancient times, including many stars dimmer than Polaris. So what was Polaris called, in any language, before it became primarily known for its proximity to the celestial…
dotancohen
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8
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When was nicotine identified as an addictive substance?
I was watching a TV series (Godless) which is set in the Wild West in 1884. At some point they sing Don't forget the girls of LaBelle, which includes the following verses:
The Creole girl is a one-eyed queen
With a kiss as addictive as nicotine
It…
user2891462
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8
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Has anyone explored Ptolemy's epicycles as an early form of Fourier analysis?
Whilst researching science in the ancient world, I came across an observation, which unfortunately I did not make a note of, and so cannot credit, that Ptolemy's epicycles were an early form of Fourier analysis. This made immediate sense to me.…
Mozibur Ullah
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8
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What does an 100 year old calculus exam look like?
I wonder whether the questions on a calculus exam at university were easier or harder 100 years ago. Nowadays we have all these aids and different learning methods.
I would love to see an old exam.
Korv Mannen
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8
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2 answers
Heisenberg's last work on a non-linear generalization of quantum mechanics?
It is claimed here that toward the end of his life Werner Heisenberg worked on a non-linear broadening or generalization of quantum mechanics. What work was that? Was it published?
Is it listed in Cassidy's Werner Heisenberg: A Bibliography of His…
Geremia
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8
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Where did Leibniz explore the product rule of differential calculus?
In what book/letter did Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz explore the product rule as part of differential calculus?
Christina Daniel
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8
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What is the history on the term 'co-domain'?
I am wondering if anyone knows any more on the history of the term 'co-domain' as it relates to functions.
Two sources I found:
Russell and Whitehead, Principia Mathematica, 1915, page 34 :
the class of all terms to which something or other has the…
Bram28
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8
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What paragraph was written by Emanouil Atanassov to solve problem 6 on the International Mathematical Olympiad in 1988?
From the Wikipedia page about Vieta jumping:
Emanouil Atanassov, Bulgaria, solved the problem [assumed to be the most difficult one on the 1988 International Mathematics Olympiad] in a paragraph and received a special prize.
The reference links to…
twentyyears
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8
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Who first identified $\frac{n}{\ln(n)}$ as an approximation of a prime counting function?
Gauss, in his 1849 letter to Encke, mentions that he noticed the primes have a density approx $\frac{1}{\ln(n)}$.
In that letter, he also mentions an integral function for approximating the prime counting function $\pi(n)$. His notation slightly…
Penelope
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