Abstract
The association of names to mathematical concepts and results (the creation of eponyms) is often a curious process. For the case of abelian groups, we will be taken on a quick, guided tour of the life of Niels Henrik Abel, elliptic functions, a curve called the lemniscate, the construction of the regular 17-gon, and a particular class of solvable equations before we can begin to appreciate how Abel's name was attributed to a concept (groups) not yet invented in his lifetime. Therefore, I will have to address how group theory was done before it was even invented. As the story unfolds, indications of a broader development in mathematics in the early nineteenth century will emerge. In that century, large parts of analysis underwent transformations from a predominantly formula-centred approach to a more conceptual one, and our story features important examples of how the processes of generalization functioned.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | BSHM Bulletin: Journal of the British Society for the History of Mathematics |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-15 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| ISSN | 1749-8430 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |