Abstract
THIS little book is based on two lectures delivered about three years ago, the first at the Newton tercentenary meeting of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, and the second at a subsequent meeting of the Mathematical and Physical Society of the University of Edinburgh. It is not concerned with Newton's work on gravitation or optics, but solely with his pure mathematics, and is addressed to those who have themselves a certain knowledge of this subject. The twelve sections deal respectively with early influences, the binomial theorem, the method of fluxions, the “De Analysi”, the “De Quadratura”, the “Geometria Analytica”, the solid of least resistance and the curve of quickest descent, angular sections, interpolation and finite differences, the “Arithmetica Universalis”, cubic curves and geometry in the “Principia”. Certain conjectures have been confirmed from a closer study of the works of Wallis and of the manuscript papers of Newton's friend, David Gregory. The author does not deal with the controversy between Newton and Leibniz as to who discovered the calculus, considering it unnecessary to add to the long-existing discussions of this subject until all the relevant documents on both sides have been published.
The Mathematical Discoveries of Newton
Prof.
H. W.
Turnbull
By. Pp. vii + 68. (London, Glasgow and Bombay: Blackie and Son, Ltd., 1945.) 5s. net.
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The Mathematical Discoveries of Newton. Nature 157, 34 (1946). https://doi.org/10.1038/157034c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/157034c0