Talk:Albert Girard
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[edit] Article needs to mention his work on Theory of Equations
I'm leaving comments here, in response to the WikiProject France banner. This scientist is actually more significant to Wikipedia:WikiProject Mathematics, but perhaps the same evaluation may serve for both. Joseph Louis Lagrange (1736-1813) wrote a major treatise on the theory of equations about 1780 in which the work of Girard is important. A later edition of this book is reprinted in the 8th volume of Lagrange's Oeuvres, called the "Traité de la solution des équations numériques de tous les degrés," which is available online. (For details see the WP article on Lagrange). Girard is actually a major figure in the progression of work on theory of equations that culminated in the 19th century with the work of Abel and Galois. This information needs to be properly explained in his article for Girard to get the recognition he deserves. The current online edition of Britannica credits Girard with being one of the first to argue the truth of the Fundamental theorem of algebra, which at the time was considered part of the theory of equations. Our own page on Fundamental theorem of algebra mentions Girard's work of 1629 called "L'invention nouvelle en l'Algèbre". The present article should say something about that book. EdJohnston 22:30, 2 February 2007 (UTC)
