Anne Boyé
22 articles published in Tangente
History and CultureN°212Jun 27, 2023Using Fermat's infinite descent
Pierre de Fermat wrote that he had succeeded in proving that the area of a right triangle can never be an integer that is a perfect square. To do so, he introduced a method of reasoning that would go down in history: infinite descent.
Read →
History and CultureN°208Oct 24, 2022The second life of women mathematicians
There is no shortage of examples of mathematical careers extended to a relatively advanced age, or begun late in life. The few women who, throughout history, managed to produce fine results despite every obstacle, often find themselves in one of these situations.
Read →
History and CultureN°82May 19, 2022The school system in Galois's time
In Évariste Galois's day, the school system was still somewhat different from ours. For example, students could choose to skip certain grades depending on their intended course of study.
Read →
Math for everyoneN°205Apr 20, 2022A relationship between functions and derivatives
Historically, differential equations emerged early in the development of analysis, through problems in geometry and mechanics.
Read →
History and CultureN°205Apr 20, 2022Mary Everest Boole: Forming mental images
For Mary Everest Boole, a graphical approach is essential to teaching.
Read →
History and CultureN°80Nov 18, 2021In the school curriculum
The era of so-called "modern mathematics" brings back many memories, some pleasant, others decidedly less so. But does that mean we should throw the baby out with the bathwater?
Read →
History and CultureN°80Nov 16, 2021First step towards the concept of a group
As early as 1770, Joseph-Louis Lagrange took an interest in solving polynomial equations. He wanted to understand why cubic and quartic equations could be solved by radicals. This led him to study permutations of their roots.
Read →
Math for everyoneN°78May 19, 2021With a straightedge alone... or almost
According to the Poncelet–Steiner theorem, every straightedge-and-compass construction can be carried out with a straightedge alone, provided that a fixed circle and its center are given. But how is this done in practice? Though the question may seem playful or even pointless, it has in fact attracted the attention of several mathematicians.
Read →
History and CultureN°194May 20, 2020Mr Viète's new algebra
François Viète ranks among those scholars celebrated for their considerable contribution to mathematics. He did not invent algebra, but his work propelled the discipline forward spectacularly.
Read →
Reading noteN°74Apr 17, 2020Mary Everest Boole, a surprising educator
Mary Everest did much to advance mathematics education. Among her innovations were the thread boards she used to make curves tangible.
Read →