Luigi Guido Grandi

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Dom Guido Grandi, O.S.B. Cam., (October 1, 1671 – July 4, 1742) was an Italian monk, priest, philosopher, mathematician, and engineer.

Mathematical studies

In 1701 Grandi published a study of the conical loxodrome, followed by a study in 1703 of the curve which he named versiera, from the Latin: vertere (to turn).

This curve was later studied by Maria Gaetana Agnesi, one of the few women scientists to achieve a degree.

Through a mistranslation by the translator of her work into English who mistook the term "witch" (Italian: avversiera) for Grandi's term, this curve became known in English as the witch of Agnesi.

It was through his studies on this curve that Grandi helped introduce Leibniz' ideas on calculus to Italy.

In mathematics Grandi is best known for his work Flores geometrici (1728), studying the rose curve, a curve which has the shape of a petalled flower, and for Grandi's series.

He named the rose curve rhodonea.

He also contributed to the Note on the Treatise of Galileo Concerning Natural Motion in the first Florentine edition of Galileo Galilei's works.

See also

External links