Mathematical Treasure: Thomas Harriot's Algebra

Thomas Harriot (ca. 1560-1621) was a British mathematician who possesses the distinction of being the first known mathematician to have worked, albeit as a surveyor, in the newly discovered territories of America. In his Artis analyticae praxis [Practice of the Art of Analysis], published posthumously in 1631, he attempted to establish a standardized system of algebraic notation. On page 7, Harriot demonstrated the addition of two binominals in pairs.

Here on page 22 of the Praxis, Harriot considered a fourth degree equation and showed its construction through multiplication of four binomial factors. As an exercise, a reader may wish to perform the expansion and check the author’s calculations.

Used by the permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C.

Index to Mathematical Treasures