Ibn al-Haytham et les nombres parfaits. (Ibn al-Haytham and perfect numbers) (Q584237): Difference between revisions

The paper discusses some of the investigations initiated by Arabian mathematicians in the field of number theory, evidencing the fact that Ibn al-Haytham, in his ``Analysis and synthesis'', has enunciated and tried to demonstrate - 700 years before Euler - the reciprocal of theorem IX-39 from Euler's ``Elements'', regarding perfect numbers. Ibn al- Haytham's steps have been solely methodological, and did not aim at calculating some particular perfect numbers. Ibn Fallus (who died around 1240), having a neo-Pythagorean formation, states the Euclidean rule of perfect numbers formation, finding even three unknown numbers up to his times. The same steps are taken later by Ibn al-Malik al-Dimashqi. Thus, the history of number theory in Arabian mathematics is enriched by the theoretical researches of Ibn al-Haytham, as well as by his contemporary, al-Baghdadi, while the calculation of new perfect numbers demonstrates, beyond several errors, that perfect numbers have been actively investigated in various periods of time.