ABSTRACT
Even in his early years Descartes gave promise of exceptional mathematical ability. Yet, according to his biographer, Descartes was not impressed with the usefulness of mathematics, and the study of simple numbers and imaginary figures was to him but useless trifling*. Such an opinion now may well appear inscrutable, for the fact that Descartes' contributions to mathematics have proved more enduring than his contributions to any other branch of learning, not excluding metaphysics, is hardly open to question. We have already considered the reasons which led him in his maturer years to an awakened interest in mathematics. We shall now consider the work upon which his mathematical reputation rests. This is La Geomitrie, probably the most important of all his legacies to science. For in its pages is to be found the exposition of a new science, the science of coordinate geometry, and it is upon the publication of this somewhat neglected work that Descartes' title to be the inventor of this powerful mathematical method is based.
