🚀 go-pugleaf

On November 10, 1619 Rene Descarte awoke form a vivid dream in which he envisio
ned the representation of algebraic equations by sets of points in a plane, thu
s unifying the two main branches of mathematics--algebra and geometry.

Or so the story goes.  Actually, it was three dreams (somewhat mystical in natu
re) that eventually led Descartes to algebracize ruler and compass constructio
ns.  His "coordinate geometry" wouldn't be recognized today.  Most of the work
of developing what we now recognize as the Catresian plane is due to Descartes
contemporaries and subsequent generations.

But it's a hecuva story and as close as we get in mathematics to pin
pointing an actual date of the birth of a transforming event.

So, on November 10, celebrate the 375th anniversary of the Cartesian plane and
the patron saint of graphing calculators (baloons and streamers are entirely ap
propriate).

Cogito ergo sum.

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JOHN E. OWENS, ED.D.         MAOWENS@ECUVM.CIS.ECU.EDU
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS    MAOWENS@ECUVM1.BITNET
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY     PHONE: (919) 328-6419
129 AUSTIN                   FAX:   (919) 328-6414
GREENVILLE, NC  27858
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