Who is Descartes? What did he contribute to mathematics?

Question

I'm doing this for school, I don't need any deep philosphy stuff, just some basic facts.

Answer 1

"Descartes's chief contributions to mathematics were his analytical geometry and his theory of vortices, and it is on his researches in connection with the former of these subjects that his mathematical reputation rests. "

http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMath/People/Descartes/RouseBall/RB_Descartes.html





"The most notable contribution that Descartes made to mathematics was the systematization of analytic geometry (see Geometry: Analytic Geometry). He was the first mathematician to attempt to classify curves according to the types of equations that produce them. He also made contributions to the theory of equations. Descartes was the first to use the last letters of the alphabet to designate unknown quantities and the first letters to designate known ones. He also invented the method of indices (as in x2) to express the powers of numbers. In addition, he formulated the rule, which is known as Descartes's rule of signs, for finding the number of positive and negative roots for any algebraic equation."

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761555262/Rene_Descartes.html





Descartes made a number of important contributions to mathematics and physics, among the most enduring of which was his foundation (with Galileo) of what is now known as analytic geometry. That is, broadly speaking, the use of geometrical analysis to solve complex algebraic problems, and vice versa. It is difficult to overestimate the importance for the history of mathematical physics of this bringing together of the sciences of geometry and algebra.

http://www.iep.utm.edu/d/descarte.htm





" 'This one thing [analytic geometry] is of the highest order of excellence, marked by the sensuous simplicity of the half dozen or so greatest contributions of all time to mathematics. Descartes remade geometry and made modern geometry possible. '(E. T. Bell)



Inventor of analytic and coordinate geometry. Cartesian coordinates. "

http://scidiv.bcc.ctc.edu/Math/Descartes.html

Answer 2

Descartes Math

Answer 3

Rene Descartes Math

Answer 4

I think he also figured out how far the moon was from the earth and also the circumference of the earth. He was only off by a few thousand miles, but for the times, it was quite accurate.

Answer 5

In one sentence, he made geometry algebraic, and more approachable. Due to his discoveries, the understanding of complex numbers increased. It became easier to picture them geometrically than before.

Answer 6

The Cartesian Coordinate System is named after him. You know, the (x, y) ordered pairs with the x and y axis.



He also said, "I think, therefore, I am."



However, he actually would have said, "Je pons, donc, je suis." He was French.

Answer 7

he is the father of analytical geometry. obviously, his greatest contribution in math is analytical geom.

Answer 8

he invented algebra