Part V — Chapter 14
Euler & Laplace
The most prolific mathematician in history and the French Newton
14.1 Leonhard Euler
Leonhard Euler (1707–1783) was the most prolific mathematician who ever lived — his collected works fill over 80 volumes. He introduced or popularized the notations f(x), e, i, π, and Σ. His identity eiπ + 1 = 0 connects the five most important constants in mathematics. Remarkably, he continued his extraordinary output even after going completely blind in 1771.
14.2 Pierre-Simon Laplace
Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749–1827) applied Newton's theory to the entire solar system in Mécanique Céleste. He also wrote the first comprehensive treatise on probability theory. The Laplace transform, the Laplacian operator, and Bayesian probability all bear his influence.