The Geometry of Rene Descartes

By David Eugene Smith and Marcia L Latham

"The Geometry of Rene Descartes" is a foundational masterpiece that marks the birth of modern analytic geometry. In this revolutionary work, Descartes introduces a method for solving geometric problems through algebraic equations, effectively merging two distinct branches of mathematics. By establishing the coordinate system that now bears his name, the author provides a transformative framework for quantifying space and visualizing algebraic functions, a development that laid the essential groundwork for the subsequent invention of calculus.

The text explores the construction of geometric problems using straight lines and circles, the nature of curved lines, and the properties of algebraic roots. Descartes' insights into the relationship between equations and their graphical representations changed the course of scientific inquiry, offering new tools for understanding the physical world. This work remains a vital primary source for students and scholars of the history of science and mathematics, representing a pivotal moment in the evolution of human thought and the transition toward modern mathematical analysis.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025678230
• ISBN13: 9781025678238
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"