Natural Blogarithms

As a result of a question asked about the history of the word “coefficient” I did a little personal research. Actually, I think I asked the question of myself in Intermediate Algebra and realized I didn’t know. Well, now I do.

From http://www.pballew.net/arithme9.html

Coefficient: A coefficient is a number, or variable, that is multiplies a variable term. In a common linear equation like 2x-3y=5 the 2 and 3 are the coefficients of the variables x and y. In the typical equation of a general quadratic polynomial we write Ax2 + Bx + C =0 but we call the letters A, B, and C the coefficients of the terms. Even though they are variables, the represent some constant, but unknown value unlike the variable x which is variable of the expression. The origin of the word reaches back to the early Latin word facere, to do. The prefix for out, ex preceding this gave the meaning of bringing about a result, and is the source of the intermediate word, effect, and its variation efficient. When two things were joined to make something more effective, we add co, the root for with, to form coefficient. The math historian Cajori credits 16th Century mathematician Francois Vieta for the creation of the word, but suggest that it did not become common until near the beginning of the 18th century.

I was also the motivated to learn a little about the source of this information, namely Florian Cajori. He authored a history of mathematics and a history of mathematical notation.

From Wikipedia (also see Florian Cajori Biography):

Florian Cajori was born February 28, 1859 in St Aignan (near Thusis), Graubünden, Switzerland. He emigrated to the United States at the age of sixteen. He received a Ph.D. at Tulane University, where he taught for a few years before being driven north by his health. He taught at Colorado College, where he founded the Colorado College Scientific Society. He became one of the most celebrated historians of mathematics in his day (he was the author of “A History of Mathematical Notations” (ISBN 0-486-67766-4)). In 1918, he was appointed to a specially created chair in history of mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley. He remained in Berkeley, California until his death, August 15, 1930.

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