17 Oct I recognize the lion by his claw …

In the late 17th century, Isaac Newton and Wilhelm Leibniz were easily the greatest mathematicians of the era, both developing calculus on their own, though the notation we currently use is actually from Leibniz.

In June 1696, the Swiss mathematician Johannes Bernoulli sent a letter to all the major mathematicians in Europe challenging them to solve two problems in six months. Leibniz requested for an extension, and duly solved the two problems.
Newton on the other hand got the problems only in January the next year, took them home from his job at the Royal Mint, and solved them by 4 am the next morning.

On this request, his solutions were sent anonymously to Bernoulli, but once Bernoulli saw the solution, he immediately realized that only Newton could have solved it so elegantly and exclaimed ‘”tanquam ex ungue leonem” -we recognize the lion by his claw.

There are two parts to this story that fascinate me. The first being that even in mathematical equations, style can be distinct and the second being what a great mathematician Bernoulli was to be able to spot Newton’s signature style.

Joy Bhattacharjya

SOURCE : linkedin.com

IMAGE : pinterest.com.pin/193584483976506933/