Jacob Bernoulli (1654-1705), founder of Basel's dynasty of mathematicians, left a relatively small body of correspondence for posterity. Published here for the first time are all 50 preserved letters sent to or by Jacob Bernoulli, and documentary evidence is presented of some l00 further letters no longer extant. The correspondence with Leibniz takes up the bulk of the volume and is also the most substantial scientifically. Topics range from Bernoulli's theories of elasticity and probability, to Leibniz' Dynamik, to the integration of algebraic functions, to controversies over differential calculus and calculus of variations. The exchange offers rare insights into the personal histories and working habits of these two correspondents. Science politics dominates the brief but intensive correspondence (1700-01) with Geneva's Nicolas Fatio de Duillier, a leading exponent of Newtonian mathematics. Their letters broach Leibniz' claim to mathematical leadership, professional disputes between the brothers Jacob and Johann, and Fatio's theory of gravitation. Bernoulli's letters to teachers and friends, and business letters to Otto Mencke, publisher of Acta Eruditorum, shed further light on the until now little-researched life of Basel's famed mathematician.

The Works of Jakob Bernoulli

by Jakob Bernoulli

Published 31 December 1989

Correction to the text about C.S. Roero printed on the inside front cover page:

Clara Silvia Roero began her research with Tullio Viola, full Professor of Analysis at Turin University. From 1987 to 2000 she was associate professor of Matematiche Complementari and of History of Mathematics at the University of Cagliari (1987-1990) and at the University of Turin (1990-2000). From 2000 she is full professor of History of Mathematics at Turin University, Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. She is currently President of the Italian Society of History of Mathematics (Societa Italiana di Storia delle Matematiche). She is author of several articles and books on the history of mathematics from antiquity to 20th century, in particular on the history of the Leibnizian Calculus; and she is a member of the editorial board of the Bollettino di Storia delle Scienze Matematiche.