Abstract
The creation of a formal mathematical language was fundamental to making mathematics algebraic. A landmark in this process was the publication of In artem analyticem isagoge by François Viète (1540–1603) in 1591. This work was diffused through many other algebra texts, as in the section entitled Algebra in the Cursus mathematicus (Paris, 1634, 1637, 1642; second edition 1644) by Pierre Hérigone (1580–1643). The aim of this paper is to analyze several features of Hérigone's Algebra. Hérigone was one of the first mathematicians to consider that symbolic language might be used as a universal language for dealing with pure and mixed mathematics. We show that, although Hérigone generally used Viète's statements, his notation, presentation style, and procedures in his algebraic proofs were quite different from Viète's. In addition, we emphasize how Hérigone handled algebraic operations and geometrical procedures by making use of propositions from Euclid's Elements formulated in symbolic language.
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