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To the Editor, The Mathematical Gazette

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2017

B. J. Phillips
B. J. Phillips*
Affiliation:
38 Edenfield Gardens, Worcester Park, Surrey
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Abstract

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Type
Correspondence
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 49 , Issue 369 , October 1965 , pp. 304 - 306
Copyright
Copyright © Mathematical Association 1965 

References

1. Smith, D. E. History of Mathematics, 1925, Vol. II p. 240.Google Scholar
2. For a discussion of this word in the present context see, for example, Depau, Rob., Simon Stevin, Brusselles 1942, p. 62. B.M. Ac988eb/5.Google Scholar
3. Sarton, e.g., Isis, G. 23, p. 173, “I cannot agree (with Smith)”. Cajori, F. A History of Mathematical Notations, 1928, Vol. I, p. 314 “The invention of decimal fractions is usually ascribed to the Belgian Simon Stevin, in his ‘La Disme’”.Google Scholar
4. The British Museum collection is very good and includes, in particu;ar, L’Arithmetic, 1585 (which includes La Disme), C74a2, De Thiende, 1585, C54ell and Albert Girard’s Les Oeuvres de Simon Stevin, 1634, 530m12.Google Scholar
5. Disme, La “Comme 3 1 7 2 5 3 9 4 c’est à dire, 3 Primes 7 Secondes 5 Tierces 9 Quartes; & ainsi se pourroit proceder en infini.” etc. For a complete translation of La Disme see Smith, D. E., A source booh in Mathematics, 1929 (Dover reprint 1959).Google Scholar
6. Yeldham, F. A., The teaching of arithmetic through 400 years, 1936, p. 86. It is interesting to note that Ball, W. W. Rouse made a similar error in his Short account of the history of mathematics, 4th Ed. 1908 (Dover reprint 1960), p. 197.Google Scholar
7. New Logarithms, London 1619. B.M. C95c17.Google Scholar
8. Canon Triangulorum, London 1620. B.M. C54e10(2).Google Scholar
9. Arithmetica Logarithmica, London 1624. B.M. C82f8.Google Scholar
10. Chilias Prima. B.M. C54e10(1).Google Scholar