Analytic Geometry: The Discovery of Fermat and Descartes

Abstract

Until a century ago the discovery of analytic geometry was ascribed categorically to the father of modern philosophy— René Descartes. Proles sine matre creata, Chasles called it, but this famous characterization is now quoted only to be refuted. The offspring is now recognized not only as having arrived as twins—for Pierre de Fermat had developed substantially the same method at about the same time—but also as having descended from a long line of legitimate antecedents.