The history of the emergence of symbolic notation in mathematics in the 17th century and transformation of mathematical practice

Abstract

The article analyzes the intellectual and cultural preconditions that made it possible to create symbolic notation in mathematics of the 17th century. It is shown that the reprints of Euclid’s Elements in the XVI century formed an intellectual and cultural background that allowed Viet and Stevens to transform the classical concept of arithmos into a symbolic concept of number, which made the creation of symbolic notation possible. It is argued that the development of symbolic notation is not a simple change in the way of notation, but significantly changed the mathematical practice, making it possible to introduce new objects and through symbolic transformations.