Biggs, Norman (2013) Thomas Harriot on continuous compounding. Bshm Bulletin: Journal of the British Society for the History of Mathematics, 28 (2). pp. 66-74. ISSN 1749-8430
Abstract
In the unpublished papers of Thomas Harriot (BL Add Ms 6782 f. 67) there is a remarkable calculation. It concerns what is now known as the continuous compounding of interest, and was probably written before 1620. This article describes the background to Harriot's calculation, and its significance. The general solution of Harriot's problem depended on some of the important mathematical developments in seventeenth century, such as logarithms and infinite series. By 1727 John Arbuthnot was able to give a recognizably modern account of it, but the final step was the work of Leonhard Euler.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17498430.2013.721331 |
| Additional Information: | © 2013 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | Q Science > QA Mathematics |
| Sets: | Departments > Mathematics |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Feb 2013 15:04 |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/48777/ |
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