Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.14936

    Diagram for solving a biquadratic equation

    Date
    24 November 1667
    Creator
    Unknown, Artist
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    LBC
    Manuscript page number
    vol2 p113
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (page): 301mm
    width (page): 175mm
    Subject
    Description
    Diagram for solving a biquadratic equation containing all terms by means of a parabola and a circle. This demonstration was included in Renatus Franciscus Slusius's letter to Henry Oldenburg dated 24 November 1667 [N.S.], which was read to the Royal Society on 28 November 1667.

    This figure was copied from LBO/2/095. The original figure is at EL/S1/51/001.
    Object history
    At the meeting of the Royal Society on 28 November 1667, ‘Mr. Oldenburg produced a letter written to him by Renatus Franciscus Slusius, canon of Liege, dated there 24 November, 1667, N. S. giving an account of his method of reducing an equation of the fourth degree or biquadratic into two quadratic equations, by a circle and a parabola; and expressing his great respect to the society. It was ordered, that the secretary should return him the thanks of the society, and that Mr. Hooke and Mr. Collins should have a copy of the letter to consider, whether Mr. Slusius had effected what he had undertaken’ (Birch 2:217-18). Oldenburg’s reply is dated 25 November 1667.
    Related fellows
    Renatus Franciscus Slusius (1622 - 1685, Belgian) , Mathematician
    Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > Belgium
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