John Wallis, a precursor of Newton
Prof. Harold M. Edwards,
Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences,
New York University
Abstract:
In the period just before Newton and Leibniz, many mathematicians were
dealing with questions involving limits and infinites. John Wallis's
work "Arithmetic Infinitorum" contains an extraordinary
argument involving infinites that gives, in a simple fashion, both
"Wallis's formula" for pi as an infinite produce and a value
for the factorial of 1/2. Newton himself stated that his first steps
toward the binomial theorem for fractional exponents were inspired by
this work of Wallis.
The talk will be held at 4:00 in Alumnae Hall, room 116.
Refreshments will be served at 3:30.
All are welcome.
Last modified:
Wed Sep 22 09:25:41 EDT 1999
Math/CS Department / msmath@panther.adelphi.edu