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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, solution to 'A mathematical problem to be solved by English mathematicians' set by Jean de Montfert [Blaise Pascal]' by Christopher Wren

Reference number: CLP/1/12

Date: 1658

Description

Christopher Wren's solution to a problem posed by Jean de Montfert (a pseudonym of Blaise Pascal): 'given the greatest diameters of an ellipse, and an assigned point in its transverse diameter, to find the numerical value of the segment of the line, limited by the ellipse, passing through the given point and making a given angle with the said diameter'. (As translated in The Correspondence of Henry Oldenburg, ed. by Hall and Hall, vol. 4, p. 291). Includes four diagrams within text.

Subject: Geometry

Reference number
CLP/1/12
Earliest possible date
1658
Physical description
Typescript on paper
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Printed

Creator name

Christopher Wren

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Citation

Christopher Wren, Paper, solution to 'A mathematical problem to be solved by English mathematicians' set by Jean de Montfert [Blaise Pascal]' by Christopher Wren, 1658, CLP/1/12, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_1_12/paper-solution-to-a-mathematical-problem-to-be-solved-by-english-mathematicians-set-by-jean-de-montfert-blaise-pascal-by-christopher-wren, accessed on 20 July 2025

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_1_12/paper-solution-to-a-mathematical-problem-to-be-solved-by-english-mathematicians-set-by-jean-de-montfert-blaise-pascal-by-christopher-wren

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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