Johann Scheubel (1494--1570): Geometer, algebraicist and cartographer (Q2735052)

Scheubel was one of the leading persons in the period of the history of mathematics, especially of algebra which is known as the era of ``deutsche Coss''. His biography is given here in short. In Tübingen he wrote the book ``De Numeris et Diversis Rationibus\dots'' (Leipzig, 1545), where by rooting a method was used, similar to the binomial formula, and also the so-called Pascal triangle (up to 16th row) was given, a century before Pascal. It is noted that P. Apian had this triangle on the title-page of his book (Ingolstadt, 1527) and he had calculated, without explanations, some higher roots; also M. Stifel's merits in this connection in 1544 are mentioned. In 1550 Scheubel published in Basel a work, in which the first six books of Euclid's Elements are treated using algebraic methods. The book was so successful that already in 1551 and 1552 two identical editions of Scheubel's ``Algebrae compendiosa facilisque descriptio\dots'' were printed in Paris. Scheubel made the first printed German translation of Euclid's seventh, eighth, and ninth books (Augsburg, 1555). Scheubel's manuscripts in archives (Columbia University New York, Vatikan, and Tübingen) are described along with their destiny. A conjecture is made that Scheubel can be the author of the first mapping of Württemberg from 1559.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe author's final conclusion is that Johann Scheubel was a rather significant advancer and transferer of algebra.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0964.00032].