The Origin & History of Ring & Field: Who Invented Them?

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SUMMARY

The terms "ring" and "field" in mathematics were first introduced by Richard Dedekind in the late 1850s. However, the English term "field" was popularized by Eliakim Hastings Moore, as Dedekind's original term "Körper" translates to "body" rather than "field." The discussion highlights the linguistic nuances in mathematical terminology, particularly the dual usage of "ring" in both English and German contexts.

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  • Familiarity with mathematical terminology, specifically abstract algebra.
  • Understanding of the historical context of mathematical concepts.
  • Basic knowledge of German language translations in mathematics.
  • Awareness of key mathematicians such as Richard Dedekind and Eliakim Hastings Moore.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the contributions of Richard Dedekind to abstract algebra.
  • Explore the historical development of mathematical terminology in the 19th century.
  • Investigate the significance of the term "Körper" in German mathematics.
  • Learn about the evolution of mathematical concepts from German to English.
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Mathematicians, educators, and students interested in the history of mathematical terminology and the evolution of concepts in abstract algebra.

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Does anybody know who first introduced terms ring and field and when?
 
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I put "mathemtics" "terms" "history" into Google and came up with this interesting site:
http://members.aol.com/jeff570/mathword.html

According to it, it was Richard Dedekind who introduced both terms in the late 1850s.
 
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Thank you, very handy website :approve:
 
technically, it appears the website mentioned states that eliakim hastings moore introduced the english term "field", as dedekind's term "korper" apparently translates literally as "body" rather than field.

I do not have a german dictionary handy though. Is perhaps "field" another translation of "korper"? interestingly "ring" seems to be both an english and a german word, as used in wagner's famous operas. or is this wrong?
 

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