Reading the "Géométrie de l'infini" by Fontenelle sparked a lifelong mathematical inquiry for Alexis Fontaine des Bertins. His analytical research focused on the complex properties of curves, contributing significantly to the eighteenth-century development of calculus within the French academic tradition. His work eventually reached a broader audience through formalized publications detailing his methodologies in differential and integral calculus.
Mathematical Contributions
Fontaine directed his intellectual efforts toward solving intricate problems related to motion and geometry. He successfully addressed the tautochrone curve, the brachistochrone curve, and orthogonal trajectories. These pursuits engaged with the evolving field of analysis, particularly during a period when the foundational principles of calculus required rigorous investigation and systematic testing.
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The French Academy of Sciences inducted Fontaine as a member in 1733. His involvement with the institution extended beyond individual research to the cultivation of upcoming talent. He served as both a patron and an instructor for the mathematician Jean-Jacques de Marguerie, ensuring his specialized knowledge reached the next generation of French scientists.
Published Works
Formal documentation of his theories appeared later in his life. In 1764, he released "Mémoires donnés à l'Académie royale des sciences, non imprimés dans leur temps." This was followed in 1770 by his "Traité de calcul différentiel et intégral, par M. Fontaine, de l'Académie royale des sciences, pour servir de suite aux mémoires de la même Académie," which integrated his findings on differential and integral operations into the Academy's broader record.
Fast facts
- Name: Alexis Fontaine des Bertins
- Born: 1704, Claveyson, France
- Died: 1771, Cuiseaux, France
- Field: Mathematics (Analysis)
- Membership: French Academy of Sciences (1733)
- Notable Work: Traité de calcul différentiel et intégral (1770)
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Alexis Fontaine des Bertins study?
He focused on analysis, specifically addressing the tautochrone curve, the brachistochrone curve, and orthogonal trajectories.
Where did Fontaine conduct his work?
He was a French mathematician who held membership in the French Academy of Sciences.
