Answer to Question #337448 in Algebra for Lwandle

Question

1.2 Explain how and who came up with these algebraic concepts or used these algebraic concepts developed over time:

1.2.1 Decimal Number System

1.2 2 Abstract Symbols

1.2.3 Negative Numbers

Answer 1

1.2.1 Decimals as they look today were used by John Napier, a Scottish mathematician who developed the use of logarithms for carrying out calculations. The modern decimal point became the standard in England in 1619.

1.2.2 Humans convert virtually all direct and indirect impressions into symbols. The symbols that humans create are words. Every word consists of two components, a denotative and a connotative

1.2.3 The English mathematician, John Wallis (1616 - 1703) is credited with giving some meaning to negative numbers by inventing the number line, and in the early 18th century a controversy ensued between Leibniz, Johan Bernoulli, Euler and d'Alembert about whether \log (-x) was the same as Log(x)