Snellius, Ambrosius Rhodius, Kepler, Franciscus a Shoten, and others, who contibuted very eminently to the perfections and advancements of Geometry, and were late men.
But none have done in it like the exellent Persons whom I reserve for my last mention; The chief are Vieta, Des Cartes, and Dr. Wallis.
Improvements in Geometry by Des
Carts, Vieta, and Dr. Wallis.
In order to my giving an account of some of their Performances, I must premise, That no great things can be done in Geometry, without the Analytical Method; And though some Learned Men conceive the Ancients were acquainted with this way of resolving Problems, yet their skill in it went no higher than the Quadratick Order of Æquations, which They demonstrated by circles and Right Lines, which They call'd Loca plana: but they were able to do nothing in the Cubical Æquations, or any of
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