Positive Thinking. Conceptions of Negative Quantities in the Netherlands and the Reception of Lacroix's Algebra Textbook
[Penser positivement. Conception des nombres négatifs aux Pays-bas et réception du traité d'algèbre de Lacroix]
Revue d'histoire des mathématiques, Tome 6 (2000) no. 1, pp. 95-126.

Au début du xixe siècle, des attitudes nouvelles par rapport aux nombres négatifs émergent. La notion de rigueur en mathématique se renouvelle, rendant inacceptables les approches qui s'étaient développées au xviiie siècle. Cet article présente les théories des nombres négatifs qui avaient cours aux Pays-bas au début du xixe siècle. Les mathématiciens néerlandais optaient pour une conception différente de celles de leurs contemporains en Allemagne et en France. La traduction néerlandaise des Élémens d'algèbre de Lacroix illustrera cette approche « néerlandaise » de la notion de rigueur.

The beginning of the 19th century witnessed the emergence of several new approaches to negative numbers. New notions of rigour made the 18th century conceptions of negative quantities unacceptable. This paper discusses theories of negative numbers emerging in the Netherlands in the early 19th century. Dutch mathematicians then opted for a different approach than that of their contemporaries, in Germany or France. The Dutch translation (1821) of Lacroix's Élémens d'algèbre illustrates the ‘Dutch' notion of rigour.

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Beckers, Danny J. Positive Thinking. Conceptions of Negative Quantities in the Netherlands and the Reception of Lacroix's Algebra Textbook. Revue d'histoire des mathématiques, Tome 6 (2000) no. 1, pp. 95-126. http://www.numdam.org/item/RHM_2000__6_1_95_0/

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