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The truth behind ‘famous name’ mathematics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2016

Keith Luoma
Keith Luoma*
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Studies, Augusta College , Augusta, GA 30910, USA
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Extract

Before reading this article, you may like to turn to page 297, where you will find a quiz on ‘famous-name’ mathematics. In each of the questions it seems reasonable to suppose that the mathematician indicated in the title of the result is the discoverer or inventor of the result. But a careful look at mathematical history shows, in each case, that there is a ‘story behind the story’. As you read on, keep in mind that even the answers given below are subject to revision as new historical data is found and interpreted.

Type
Articles
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 80 , Issue 488 , July 1996 , pp. 349 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © The Mathematical Association 1996

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References

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