Adam Ries
Adam Ries was a German mathematician. He was born 1492 in Staffelstein (Franconia) and died on March 30 1559 in Annaberg (Ore Mountains). He is better known by the name Adam Riese; scientists and historians however point out that the correct spelling of his name is Ries.
Adam Ries worked, among other places, in Erfurt and Annaberg, where he was head of schools of mathematics. He published three books on calculation:
- "Rechnung auff der linihen" (1518)
- "Rechnung auff der linihen vnd federn" (1522) (this work had at least 108 editions)
- "Rechenung nach der lenge auff den Linihen vnd Feder" (1550) (also known by the short title "Practica")
A fourth book of his, "Coss" (1524) on Algebra could not be published in his days. The manuscript was first printed in 1992 by the publisher B.G. Teubner.
It is noteworthy that Adam Ries did not publish his books in Latin - which was the usual practice in his days - but in German. This way he reached a wider audience and, like Martin Luther, contributed to the unification of the German language.
|
