Achille Brocot
Achille Brocot (1817–1878) was a French clockmaker[1] and amateur mathematician.[2] He is known for his discovery (independently of and contemporaneously with German number theorist Moritz Stern) of the Stern–Brocot tree, a mathematical structure useful in approximating real numbers by rational numbers; this sort of approximation is an important part of the design of gear ratios for clocks.[3] He also made many other horological innovations including refinement of his father Louis-Gabriel's Brocot escapement and the development of clocks with perpetual calendar mechanisms.[4][5]
References
- ^ Player, J. W., ed., Britten's Watch & Clock Makers' Handbook Dictionary & Guide (15th ed.), Taylor & Francis, p. 380 .
- ^ Mansuy, Roger (French), Achille Brocot, mathématicien à ses heures, CultureMath, http://www.dma.ens.fr/culturemath/histoire%20des%20maths/htm/Brocot/Brocot.html .
- ^ Hayes, Brian (2008), "On the Teeth of Wheels", Group Theory in the Bedroom, and Other Mathematical Diversions, Hill and Wang, http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/on-the-teeth-of-wheels/ .
- ^ Kirk, John G., The Brocots: A Dynasty of Horologers, http://www.nawcc69.org/pdf/Brocots_v3.pdf . Powerpoint presentation based on Chavigny (1991).
- ^ Chavigny, Richard (1991) (French), Les Brocot: une dynastie d'horlogers, Antoine Simonin, ISBN 9782881750038 .
| Persondata |
| Name |
Brocot, Achille |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
1817 |
| Place of birth |
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| Date of death |
1878 |
| Place of death |
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