Development of concepts and the evolution of science. Symbolic algebra in the 16th and 17th century. A case study

Start - End 
2004 - 2005 (completed)
Type 
Research Focus 

Tabgroup

Abstract

In this study we will expand upon the hypothesis that the 16th-century tradition of master arithmeticians did influence the conceptual shift that has lead to a symbolic algebra.  The origin and evolution of key concepts, and possible inconsistencies within these concepts (“number”, “unknown”, “equation” and “roots of equations”) will be analysed, with special focus on algebraical solutions with negative, irrational and imaginary numbers.

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