Quelques aspects de l'histoire des équations fonctionnelles liées à l'évolution du concept de fonction. (Some aspects of the history of functional equations combined with the development of the of concept function) (Q1080842)

The author studies the development of the function concept insofar as the characterization of a function by some sort of relationship is involved. Since the Greek theory of proportion avoided the function idea, the historical account really begins in the Middle Ages and the work of Nicholas Oresme and the Merton Calculators. The theory of forms and Galileo's use of motion are discussed. Following an extensive treatment of the logarithm, the author undertakes a survey of the eighteenth century, in particular the work of Euler and the mathematical physicists. The remainder of the paper focusses on the binomial expansion and Cauchy's equation \(f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)\) and its relatives.