Difference between revisions of "Treatise of Algebra"

Revision as of 08:59, 9 December 2013

by William Emerson

A Treatise of Algebra: in Two Books
Title page from A Treatise of Algebra: in Two Books, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary.
Author	William Emerson
Editor	{{{editor}}}
Translator	{{{trans}}}
Published	London: Printed for J. Nourse
Date	1764
Edition	First
Language	English
Volumes	2 volume set
Pages	viii, 527 pages, XIII leaves of plates
Desc.	{{{desc}}}
Location	[[Shelf {{{shelf}}}]]
	[[Shelf {{{shelf2}}}]]

William Emerson (1701-1782) was a well-known British mathematician in the early eighteenth century. Emerson was the son of a schoolmaster and, after receiving his education, opened a school of his own in 1730.^[1] In 1733 his school closed due to lack of interest. It was at that point that Emerson devoted himself entirely to the study of mathematics.^[2] In 1743 Emerson published the first of his textbooks, The Doctrine of Fluxions.^[3] After it was published, Emerson proceeded to write more textbooks on a wide variety of different mathematical concepts.^[4] Many of his published textbooks were bestsellers because they were aimed at all people interested in mathematics rather the narrow niche of researchers or those in the field of academics.^[5]

Emerson’s works, including A Treatise on Algebra, were very influential during the eighteenth century and continued to have a lasting effect well into the nineteenth century.^[6] Because of the relative simplistic style of A Treatise on Algebra, Emerson was able to effectively communicate mathematical ideas and concepts to a more “common” audience. Prior to Emerson’s work, this broad “common” audience was frequently omitted from consideration when textbooks were published.^[7]

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy

Backed in contemporary leather with gilt fillets and red label with gilt lettering. Boards speckled.

Find this book in William & Mary's online catalog.

References

1. ↑ Alsager Vian, "Emerson, William (1701–1782)", rev. Niccolò Guicciardini in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed 6 Oct 2013. (Subscription required for access.)
2. ↑ Ibid.
3. ↑ Ibid.
4. ↑ Ibid.
5. ↑ Ibid.
6. ↑ J. O'Conner and E. Robertson, "Emerson biography," in MacTutor History of Mathematics, accessed October 3, 2013 http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Emerson.html.
7. ↑ Vian, "Emerson, William."