French mathematician and philosopher whose 1637 appendix La Geometrie founded analytic geometry: representing points by pairs of numbers, coordinates, and curves by algebraic equations, so that geometric problems could be solved by algebraic manipulation and vice versa. The Cartesian coordinate system, named for him, is the everyday x-y plane taught in every school and the working substrate of nearly all applied mathematics since. This entity carries his mathematics; his philosophical work is the primary subject of his entry on the family's Philosophy atlas.
Facts
BirthplaceLa Haye en Touraine, Kingdom of France (renamed Descartes in his honor in 1967) 2 Death PlaceStockholm, Sweden, of pneumonia while tutoring Queen Christina 2 Nationality / Culture Defining ContributionFounded analytic geometry: the Cartesian coordinate system uniting algebra and geometry into one working method. 2 Notable Work Connections
Associated With
Coined the term imaginary in 1637, dismissively, regarding such quantities as fictitious.
Source MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive
In Branch
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica, Mathematics
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica, Mathematics
Proofs Credited
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: France, nationality there.
- Also in Philosophy Atlas: Rene Descartes, the same subject.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Rene Descartes
WikipediaLead section, gender referenceQuote, Lead section, gender reference
He connected the previously separate fields of geometry and algebra into analytic geometry and introduced a systematic method of inquiry that became influential in early modern philosophy.
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Mathematics
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.