Horner versus Holdred: An episode in the history of root computation

MaRDI QIDQ1283015zbMATH OpenFDO

Authors A. T. Fuller

Publication date 25 April 2000

Published in Historia Mathematica (Search for Journal in Brave)

zbMATH Keywords

HoldredHornerroots of algebraic equations,Vieète

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

History of mathematics in the 19th century (01A55) Biographies, obituaries, personalia, bibliographies (01A70) Sociology (and profession) of mathematics (01A80) History of numerical analysis (65-03)

Review text

The methods of Holdred and Horner are given in summary form, not immediately transparent. Holdred developed Viète's method and showed it to Nicholson; Nicholson was the first to publish a revised form of Holdred's algorithm with attribution, and engendered controversy after Holdred published. Horner published last, plagiarising Holdred, without any attribution to Viète or Holdred, but with proofs Holdred could not supply. There are five letters, and 82 references.

Recommendations

• On the cost of computing roots of polynomials
• On K nig's root-finding algorithms*
• Old and new nearly optimal polynomial root-finders
• Rationalizing roots: an algorithmic approach
• Revisiting the stability of computing the roots of a quadratic polynomial
• A Refinement of H. C. Williams' qth Root Algorithm
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1488179
• Computers and the Multiplicity of Polynomial Roots
• On Accurate Computations of the Perron Root

Cites work

• Augustus De Morgan (1806-1871)
• Convolutions in French mathematics, 1800-1840. Volume I: The settings. Volume II: The turns. Volume III: The data
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4016810 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3151600 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4043782 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 47928 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3455178 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3521906 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1330420 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3231044 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3273112 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3196200 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3042019 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3050520 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3093676 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3105036 (Why is no real title available?)
• Mathematics in the metropolis: a survey of Victorian London
• Mr Peter Nicholson, The Practical Builder and Mathematician
• Résolution des équations numériques et algèbre: Šaraf-al-Din al-Tūsī, Viète
• Sur la vie et l'oeuvre de François Budan (1761--1840). (On the life and work of F. Budan)

Cited in

(1)

• Oxford mathematics at a low ebb? An 1855 dispute over examination results

This page was built for publication: Horner versus Holdred: An episode in the history of root computation

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q1283015)