Mathematical Treasure: Pure Mathematics of Francoeur

Louis Benjamin Francoeur (1773-1849) was a gifted French mathematician and noted textbook writer. He was a student of Gaspard Monge and later became an examiner for the École Polytechnique. His comprehensive “Course in Pure Mathematics” was first published as Cours Complet de Matématique Pures in 1809. It went through several French editions before being published in English. Here, we examine material from the 1829-30 English edition. Eventually, this book would experience nine editions through 1986.

The “Table of Contents” for Volume I indicates the scope and sequence of the topics studied.

Here is the plate of illustrations for Volume I.

The “Table of Contents” for Volume II (published in 1830) completes the material included in a study of “Pure Mathematics” at this time.

A plate of illustrations depicts the geometrical situations considered in Volume II.

This material is obtained through the courtesy of the Peabody Library of Johns Hopkins University.

Index to Mathematical Treasures