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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

192024

Monge's descriptive geometry in three examples

Christopher Baltus

pp. 109-120

Abstract

Gaspard Monge (1746–1818) was at the center of developments in France in science, mathematics, and industry, and in education in those fields. He was the organizer of French industry in 1793 for producing the steel and guns essential for French military victory in 1794, and then among the founders of the École polytechnique. His descriptive geometry, first installed in the curriculum at the École royale du génie de Mézières, distills essential ideas from both military engineering and his pioneering work in the differential geometry of surfaces. Although much is written about the great influence of Monge on engineering education and on the next generation of French mathematicians, it is harder to find a detailed examination, at a basic level, of Monge's descriptive geometry. Three example problems are here selected from materials prepared, around 1795, for use in the Écoles normales and the Polytechnique, indicating the concerns of Monge and the context of his work. Detailed solutions of those problems are provided.

Publication details

Published in:

Zack Maria, Schlimm Dirk (2018) Research in history and philosophy of mathematics: the CSHPM 2017 annual meeting in Toronto, Ontario. Basel, Birkhäuser.

Pages: 109-120

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-90983-7_7

Full citation:

Baltus Christopher (2018) „Monge's descriptive geometry in three examples“, In: M. Zack & D. Schlimm (eds.), Research in history and philosophy of mathematics, Basel, Birkhäuser, 109–120.