A guide to Cauchy's calculus. A translation and analysis of \textit{Calcul infinitésimal} (Q2845697)

Any teacher of mathematics knows that the general prominent modern ideas can be mostly considered as rediscovering of the results established by the giants of mathematics. A special role in this for mathematical analysis belongs to Augustin-Louis Cauchy whose textbooks of the beginning of XIX century are brilliant examples of the first attempts to rigorized teaching of this discipline.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe author of the present book described its aim as follows: ``The purpose of this book is to include, in one volume, the complete English translations of all the relevant lectures in Cauchy's text, a detailed analysis of each of these lectures so that a reader can make steady progress through the original work, a comparison between his ideas and proofs with those \dots used today. An overview of the historical development of the calculus and Cauchy's role in this development is also needed to gain the full picture of this achievements\dots''NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe book can be considered as a guide through Cauchy's development of a modern rigorous version of analysis. Mostly the several lectures and some additional notes come from Cauchy's ``Résumé des leçons sur le calcul infinitésimal'' (of 1823), along with two notes and a number of preliminary results from his ``Cours d'analyse'' (of 1821), they form the content of this book. One can note that what is chosen are only chapters of real analysis though in Cauchy's original books elements of complex analysis were developed as well.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEAll parts of the present book invite to a very deep and interesting reading on the development of the most general ideas of mathematical analysis and approaches to their rigorous presentation.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe book consists of three parts ``Background'' (containing a historical overview of the development of calculus as well as some notes on Cauchy and his texts), main part ``Cauchy's lectures'' and ending part ``Comparisons and ending material''. The central part is organized as follows: 27 chapters contain translation of the original Cauchy's lectures or notes (occupying not more than 5--6 pages) along with the deep analysis of what is said by Cauchy, how one or another notion or a result appears in their historical retrospective and what it means from modern point of view.