A table detailing the complete prime factorizations of every integer not divisible by 2, 3, or 5 between 1 and 408,000 stands as the primary achievement of Anton Felkel. Published in 1776 and 1777, this extensive mathematical record represents a significant effort to organize numerical data during the eighteenth century.
Early Education and Background
Born in 1740 in Kamieniec Ząbkowicki, Poland, Anton Felkel pursued his academic training at the University of Vienna. His mathematical interests developed within a period characterized by rigorous analysis and the expansion of calculus, though his personal contributions remained focused on number theory.
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Felkel organized his findings into three distinct volumes, published under the title Tafel aller einfachen Factoren der durch 2, 3, 5 nicht theilbaren Zahlen von 1 bis 10 000 000. The first part covered integers up to 144,000, the second extended from 144,001 to 336,000, and the third reached 408,000. Although he proposed an ambitious expansion to 10 million, his completed work ended at the 408,000 threshold.
Additional Publications
Beyond his numerical tables, Felkel authored texts on diverse subjects. In 1780, he released Wahre Beschaffenheit des Donners, which explored natural phenomena. The following year, he published Neueröffnetes Geheimniss der Parallellinien, a work containing various additions to proportion and solid geometry, alongside descriptions of mechanical techniques.
Final Years
The details surrounding the conclusion of Felkel's life remain limited, with records indicating his death occurred around 1800 at the age of 60. Historical accounts suggest that he died in Lisbon, Portugal, leaving behind a collection of mathematical documentation that served as a reference point for future developments in number theory.
Fast facts
- Born: 1740
- Birthplace: Kamieniec Ząbkowicki, Poland
- Died: 1800
- Place of death: Lisbon, Portugal
- Field of work: Number theory
- Education: University of Vienna
Questions readers ask
What was the scope of Felkel's prime factorization tables?
His tables provided complete prime factorizations for all integers not divisible by 2, 3, or 5, ranging from 1 to 408,000.
Did Felkel publish work outside of mathematics?
Yes, he authored a text on the nature of thunder in 1780 and a book on geometry and mechanical techniques in 1781.
Achievements
- Fields: number theory
