Variables, limits, and infinitesimals in Portugal in the late 18th century. (Q1427536)

The author's study starts with a brief history of the Portuguese university evolution, i.e., with the reform that took place in 1772 at the University of Coimbra. The main novelty was the introduction of differential and integral calculus in students' curriculum. Teaching was essentially based on Bézout's second volume of \textit{Elementos de Analyse}. Out of the Portuguese mathematicians, especially noteworthy in those times were Anastacio da Cunha, Anastacio Joaquim Rodrigues and Garçao Stockler. Their main scientific concern are briefly reviewed in separate paragraphs. Another paragraph is devoted to the variables in the calculus of the 18th century, several demonstrations being developed. There follows a discussion of the 3 works that Cunha dedicated to the principles of calculus (the manuscripts of which are lost). The information is taken from Cunha's main work \textit{Principios Mathematicos}, as well as from the Dissertation of A. J. Rodrigues, one of Cunha's pupils. Special subchapters are dedicated to variables and infinitesimals, minute demonstrations being made. There follows the presentation of Stockler's ideas on variables and limits, the discussion of his theories, the influences to which he had been submitted (i.e., Newton, d'Alembert). A last paragraph is devoted to Tristao Silveira.