JF Ptak Science Books
Charles Babbage. "Solutions of some Problems by Means of the Calculus of Functions", Article XIV in The Journal of Science and the Arts, edited at the Royal Institution, London, printed for John Murray, 1817, pp 371-379 in the volume of pp 484, 8 plates, including 1 folding. Bound in calf-backed decorative boards, with calf tips. Good copy, with 1 section of one quire of 4pp loose, disbound from the text block. The text is generally clean, and bright, and crisp. $300
"Babbage's major contribution to mathematics was his calculus of functions, which he became interested in as early as 1809 and continued to develop during his years at Cambridge. Babbage presented his major ideas on the subject in two papers, published in the Philosophical Transactions in 1815 and 1816, and in the problems and solutions published here. "It can be said with some assurance that no mathematician prior to Babbage had treated the calculus of functions in such a systematic way... Babbage must be given full credit as the inventor of a distinct and important branch of mathematics" (Dubbey 1978, 90)"--the overall quote from the Christies' description of a Babbage lot in their "Important Scientific Books: The Richard Green Library" 17 June 2008.
Also includes the following:
- Notice of some Experiments and new Views respecting Flame. By Sir H. Davy,
- On the Effects produced in Astronomical and Trigonometrical Observations, &c. by the Descent of the Fluid which lubricates the Cornea. By David Brewster
- On the Decomposition of Light, by Simple Reflection. By David Brewster
among numerous other contributions.
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