Was Newton’s calculus a dead end? The continental influence of Maclaurin’s treatise of fluxions. (English) Zbl 0885.01010

Grabiner, Judith V.

Am. Math. Mon. 104, No. 5, 393-410 (1997).

The author argues that Colin Maclaurin’s Treatise on Fluxions has a more significant impact on the development of mathematics in mainland Europe than might currently be accepted. She also explores why this work has been undervalued in the development of our understanding of the history of science.

Reviewer: D.A.Quinney (Keele)

MSC:

01A50

History of mathematics in the 18th century

Keywords:

Maclaurin; fluxions; treatise on fluxions