Stifel

Michael Stifel

Born: 1487 in Esslingen, Germany
Died: 19 April 1567 in Jena, Germany

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Stifel worked on arithmetic and algebra. He invented logarithms independently of Napier using a totally different approach. His most famous work is Arithmetica integra published in 1544. It contains binomial coefficients and the notation +, -, sqrt.

Stifel used a clever rearrangement of the letters LEO DECIMVS to "prove" that Leo X was 666, the number of the beast given in the Book of Revelation.

Other Web sites:

Rice University, USA

References:

  1. Dictionary of Scientific Biography
  2. M Cantor, Vorlesungen über Geschichte der Mathematik II (Leipzig, 1913), 430-449.
  3. J E Hofmann, Michael Stifel, Jahrbuch für Geschichte der Oberdeutschen Reichsstädte 14 (1968), 30-60.
  4. W Arnold, Michael Stifel, in H Wussing and W Arnold, Biographien bedeutender Mathematiker (Berlin, 1983).
  5. W Jentsch, Michael Stifel : Mathematiker und Mitstreiter Luthers, Schriftenreihe fur Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften Technik und Medizin 23 (1986), 11-33.
  6. K Reich, Michael Stifel, Mitt. Math. Ges. Hamburg 14 (1995), 23-33. 
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JOC/EFR February 1996