Simon Stevin

Simon Stevin (1548/49 – 1620) was a Belgian mathematician and engineer. He was active in a great many areas of science, both theoretical and practical, but may be best known for his translation of various mathematical terms into common Dutch language, making it the only European language in which the word for mathematics ('wiskunde') was not derived from the Greek (via Latin).

Publications

Amongst others, he published:

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• Tafelen van Interest (Tables of interest) in 1582;
• Problemata geometrica in 1583;
• La Theinde (The tenth) in 1585 in which decimals were introduced in Europe;
• La pratique d'arithmétique in 1585;
• L'arithmétique in 1585 in which he presented a uniform treatment for solving algebraic equations;
• De Beghinselen der Weegconst in 1586;
• De Beghinselen des Waterwichts (Principles on the weight of water) in 1586 on the subject of hydrostatics;
• Vita Politica. Named Burgherlick leven (Civil life) in 1590;
• De Sterktenbouwing (The construction of fortifications) published in 1594;
• De Havenvinding (Position finding) published in 1599;
• De Hemelloop in 1608;
• Wiskonstighe Ghedachtenissen (Mathematical Memoirs). This included earlier works like De Driehouckhandel (Trigonometry), De Meetdaet (Practice of measuring), and De Deursichtighe (Perspective);
• Castrametatio, dat is legermeting and Nieuwe Maniere van Stercktebou door Spilsluysen (New ways of building of sluices) published in 1617;
• De Spiegheling der Singconst (Theory of the art of singing).