LAGRANGE, Théorie des fonctions analytiques, [1797]
LAGRANGE, Joseph Louis.
Théorie des fonctions analytiques, contenant les principes du calcul différentiel, dégagés de toute considération d'infiniment petits ou d'évanouissans, de limites ou de fluxions et réduits à l'analyse algébrique des quantités finies.
Paris, Imprimerie de la République, An V [1797].
4to (253x193 mm), (4)-viii-276 pages. binding : Contemporary full mottled sheep, gilt flat spine lettered in gilt. Rebacked,. Binding rubbed. Some stains in margins.
First edition, variant A with 276 pages (an other variant B has 277 pages, see Norman)
Copy as a prize awarded in 1806 to the Collège Sainte Barbe (the college's monogram on the covers) by Gaspard Monge to François de Sales Desnoyers (1788-1846). François Desnoyers joined the École Polytechnique in 1809, served in the Napoleonic campaigns, and lost an arm in Leipzig in 1814. In 1826, he became an Administrator at the École Polytechnique.
references: D.S.B. [VII, p. 570. "The year 1797 saw the appearance of the famous work of Lagrange, 'Théorie des fonctions analytiques'. This book developed with care and completeness the characteristic definition and method in terms of 'fonctions derives,' based upon Taylor's series, which Lagrange had proposed in 1772. In it the author gave not only an attempted proof of the incorrect theorem that every continuous function may be so expanded, but also the determination of the 'fonctions derives' (or derivatives) of the elementary functions, and numerous applications to geometry and mechanics. Lagrange's 'Théorie des fonctions' was only one, but by far the most important, of many attempts made about this time to furnish the calculus with a basis which would logically modify or supplant those given in terms of limits and infinitesimals."], Norman [1258 : "Lagrange attempte to show that power series expansions are sufficient to provide a solid foundation for differential calculus."].
Price : 1200 €
