Book Where to find famous maths books?

[AlexVGheo]

Hi,

I have read a lot of mathematics history like S. Hollingdale's Maker's of Mathematics and pop-maths like Simon Singh's Fermat's Last Theorem etc. And from these I found references to other, historic/inspiring, mathematical works like Euclid's Elements and A Mathematician's Apology and so forth which I consequently read, but there is one work that I cannot find on the internet! I want a copy of Diophantus's Arithmatica, moreover I want a copy that has Fermat's commentaries in it...

So my question is where can I find it?

 

[SteamKing]

Fermat' son Samuel published an edition of Diophantine's Arithmetica in 1670 after his father's death. This edition contained the text of the Arithmetica in the original Greek with a parallel translation in Latin. Fermat's commentaries are also printed in the text where presumably they were originally found. These commentaries are written in Latin. The edition on which Fermat made his comments was Bachet's, printed in 1621. The actual volume owned by Fermat is now lost, so the 1670 edition printed by his son is the earliest copy containing his father's notations.

A copy of the actual section containing the famous Last Theorem can be seen here:

http://math.wallawalla.edu/conferences/TomAndKen/presentations/outlines/kleiji.pdf

 

[AlexVGheo]

Very good, it is exactly the book I was looking for. But does that mean no one has translated Samule's publicationm to English?

 

[SteamKing]

IDK if anyone has translated the entire composite work. Certainly, the Arithmetica has been translated several times. As for Fermat's scribblings, I'm not sure.

All of Fermat's surviving work was collected and printed in France (in French naturellement) more than a century ago. There is a more recent book about his mathematical career which was printed in 1994.

See:
http://www.springer.com/cda/content/document/cda_downloaddocument/9780817682675-c1.pdf

Specifically, Refs. 26 and 35 at the end.

 

[CellCoree]

I understand the importance of accessing reliable and accurate information, especially in the field of mathematics. I can suggest a few ways to find a copy of Diophantus's Arithmetica with Fermat's commentaries.

Firstly, I would recommend checking with your local library or university library. They may have a physical copy of the book or be able to request it through interlibrary loan. This is a great option because you can access the book for free and it also ensures that you are getting a reliable and authentic version.

If you prefer to have a personal copy, you can also try searching for it on online bookstores such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble. These websites often have a wide selection of books, including rare and historic ones. You can also search for specific editions, such as those with Fermat's commentaries, to narrow down your search.

Another option is to look for digital copies of the book. Many universities and libraries have digital collections that include rare and historic books. You can also try searching for it on websites such as Google Books or Project Gutenberg.

Lastly, you can reach out to mathematics societies or organizations, such as the Mathematical Association of America, and inquire about the availability of the book. They may have resources or connections that can help you find a copy.

I hope these suggestions help you in your search for Diophantus's Arithmetica. As a fellow lover of mathematics, I understand the importance of reading and studying historic works in the field. Best of luck in your search!