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In connection with the study of curves Fermat proceeded to apply the idea of infinitesimals to the questions of quadrature and of maxima and minima as well as to the drawing of tangents. In this he seems to have anticipated the work of Cavalieri, but the date of his discovery is unknown.

— David Eugene Smith History of Mathematics (1925)

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More quotes by David Eugene Smith

He used capital vowels for the unknown quantities and capital consonants for the known, thus being able to express several unknowns and several knowns.

History of Mathematics (1925)

With the coming of the Jesuits in the 16th century, and the consequent introduction of Western science, China lost interest in her native algebra...

History of Mathematics (1925)

He... gave thirteen forms of the cubic which have positive roots, these having already been given by Omar Kayyam.

History of Mathematics (1925)

He states that the root of x^3 + 6x = 20 isx = \sqrt[3]{\sqrt{108} + 10} - \sqrt[3]{\sqrt{108} - 10}.

History of Mathematics (1925)

The excellent work of Tropfke is an example of the tendency to break away from the mere chronological recital of facts.

History of Mathematics (1923)

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