Important Math History

By cbaker567
  • Nov 23, 1048

    Omar Khayyam

    Generalized Indian methods for extracting square and cube roots to include fourth, fifth and higher roots, noted existence of different sorts of cubic equations.
  • Nov 23, 1114

    Bhaskara II

    Established that dividing by zero yields infinity, found solutions to quadratic, cubic and quartic equations (including negative and irrational solutions) and to second order Diophantine equations, introduced some preliminary concepts of calculus.
  • Nov 23, 1170

    Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci)

    Fibonacci Sequence of numbers, advocacy of the use of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system in Europe, Fibonacci's identity (product of two sums of two squares is itself a sum of two squares)
  • Nov 23, 1201

    Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

    Developed field of spherical trigonometry, formulated law of sines for plane triangle.
  • Nov 23, 1202

    Qin Jiushao

    Solutions to quadratic, cubic and higher power equations using a method of repeated approximations.
  • Nov 23, 1238

    Yang Hu

    Culmination of Chinese “magic” squares, circles and triangles, Yang Hui’s Triangle (earlier version of Pascal’s Triangle of binomial co-efficients)
  • Nov 23, 1267

    Kamal al-Din al-Farisi

    Applied theory of conic sections to solve optical problems, explored amicable numbers, factorization and combinatorial methods.
  • Nov 23, 1323

    Nicole Oresme

    System of rectangular coordinates, such as for a time-speed-distance graph, first to use fractional exponents, also worked on infinite series.
  • Nov 23, 1350

    Madhava

    Use of infinite series of fractions to give an exact formula for π, sine formula and other trigonometric functions, important step towards development of calculus.
  • Nov 23, 1446

    Luca Pacioli

    Influential book on arithmetic, geometry and book-keeping, also introduced standard symbols for plus and minus.