Florian Cajori on Science
Browse 5 quotations attributed to Florian Cajori, catalogued under Science, with dates where available.
This page displays 5 quotations attributed to Florian Cajori and filed under "Science" in QuoteLineage. The selection is ordered by stored importance and quality scores, not citation counts. A topic label describes how an entry is catalogued; it does not establish the theme's importance in the author's work.
Attributed to Florian Cajori, entry #50405: "Comparatively few of the propositions and proofs in the Elements are his own discoveries. In fact, the proof of the "Theorem of Pythagoras" is the only one directly ascribed to hi…"
Attributed to Florian Cajori, entry #229965: "''An Introduction to the Modern Theory of Equations"
5 Quotes by Florian Cajori on Science
"Comparatively few of the propositions and proofs in the Elements are his own discoveries. In fact, the proof of the "Theorem of Pythagoras" is the only one directly ascribed to him."
"''An Introduction to the Modern Theory of Equations"
"It is a remarkable fact in the history of geometry, that the Elements of Euclid, written two thousand years ago, are still regarded by many as the best introduction to the mathematical sciences."
"The history of mathematics may be instructive as well as agreeable ; it may not only remind us of what we have, but may also teach us to increase our store. Says De Morgan, "The early history of the mind of men with regards to mathematics leads us to point out our own errors; and in this respect it is well to pay attention to the history of mathematics." It warns us against hasty conclusions; it points out the importance of a good notation upon the progress of the science; it discourages excessive specialization on the part of the investigator, by showing how apparently distinct branches have been found to possess unexpected connecting links; it saves the student from wasting time and energy upon problems which were, perhaps, solved long since; it discourages him from attacking an unsolved problem by the same method which has led other mathematicians to failure; it teaches that fortifications can be taken by other ways than by direct attack, that when repulsed from a direct assault it is well to reconnoitre and occupy the surrounding ground and to discover the secret paths by which the apparently unconquerable position can be taken."
"Most of his memoirs are contained in the transactions of the Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg, and in those of the Academy at Berlin. From 1728 to 1783 a large portion of the Petropolitan transactions were filled by his writings. He had engaged to furnish the Petersburg Academy with memoirs in sufficient number to enrich its acts for twenty years a promise more than fulfilled, for down to 1818 the volumes usually contained one or more papers of his. It has been said that an edition of Euler's complete works would fill 16,000 quarto pages."