Positive Thinking. Conceptions of Negative Quantities in the Netherlands and the Reception of Lacroix’s Algebra Textbook

Danny J. Beckers

Revue d'histoire des mathématiques (2000)

  • Volume: 6, Issue: 1, page 91-122
  • ISSN: 1262-022X

Abstract

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The beginning of the 19th century witnessed the emergence of several new approaches to negative numbers. New notions of rigour made the 18th century conceptions of negative quantities unacceptable. This paper discusses theories of negative numbers emerging in the Netherlands in the early 19th century. Dutch mathematicians then opted for a different approach than that of their contemporaries, in Germany or France. The Dutch translation (1821) of Lacroix’s Élémens d’algèbre illustrates the ‘Dutch’ notion of rigour.

How to cite

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Beckers, Danny J.. "Positive Thinking. Conceptions of Negative Quantities in the Netherlands and the Reception of Lacroix’s Algebra Textbook." Revue d'histoire des mathématiques 6.1 (2000): 91-122. <http://eudml.org/doc/252081>.

@article{Beckers2000,
abstract = {The beginning of the 19th century witnessed the emergence of several new approaches to negative numbers. New notions of rigour made the 18th century conceptions of negative quantities unacceptable. This paper discusses theories of negative numbers emerging in the Netherlands in the early 19th century. Dutch mathematicians then opted for a different approach than that of their contemporaries, in Germany or France. The Dutch translation (1821) of Lacroix’s Élémens d’algèbre illustrates the ‘Dutch’ notion of rigour.},
author = {Beckers, Danny J.},
journal = {Revue d'histoire des mathématiques},
language = {eng},
number = {1},
pages = {91-122},
publisher = {Société mathématique de France},
title = {Positive Thinking. Conceptions of Negative Quantities in the Netherlands and the Reception of Lacroix’s Algebra Textbook},
url = {http://eudml.org/doc/252081},
volume = {6},
year = {2000},
}

TY - JOUR
AU - Beckers, Danny J.
TI - Positive Thinking. Conceptions of Negative Quantities in the Netherlands and the Reception of Lacroix’s Algebra Textbook
JO - Revue d'histoire des mathématiques
PY - 2000
PB - Société mathématique de France
VL - 6
IS - 1
SP - 91
EP - 122
AB - The beginning of the 19th century witnessed the emergence of several new approaches to negative numbers. New notions of rigour made the 18th century conceptions of negative quantities unacceptable. This paper discusses theories of negative numbers emerging in the Netherlands in the early 19th century. Dutch mathematicians then opted for a different approach than that of their contemporaries, in Germany or France. The Dutch translation (1821) of Lacroix’s Élémens d’algèbre illustrates the ‘Dutch’ notion of rigour.
LA - eng
UR - http://eudml.org/doc/252081
ER -

References

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