Robert Recorde

Robert Recorde (c.1512–1558) was a Welsh physician and mathematician. He

Robert Recorde
invented the equals sign (=) and also introduced the pre-existing plus sign (+) to
English speakers in 1557.[1]

Contents
Biography
Robert Recorde (c.1512–1558)
Publications
Born Robert Recorde
See also
c. 1512
Notes
Tenby,
References
Pembrokeshire, Wales
External links
Died 1558
London, England

Biography Nationality Welsh

Alma mater University of Oxford
Born around 1512, Robert Recorde was the second son of Thomas and Rose
University of
Recorde of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, in Wales.[1] Recorde entered the University of
Cambridge
Oxford about 1525, and was elected a Fellow of All Souls College there in 1531.
Having adopted medicine as a profession, he went to the University of Cambridge to Known for Inventing the equals
take the degree of M.D. in 1545. He afterwards returned to Oxford, where he sign (=)
publicly taught mathematics, as he had done prior to going to Cambridge. It appears Scientific career
that he afterwards went to London, and acted as physician to King Edward VI and to Fields Mathematician and
Queen Mary, to whom some of his books are dedicated. He was also controller of physician
the Royal Mint and served as "Comptroller of Mines and Monies" in Ireland.[2]
Institutions University of Oxford
After being sued for defamation by a political enemy, he was arrested for debt and
Royal Mint
died in the King's Bench Prison, Southwark, by the middle of June 1558.

Publications
Recorde published several works upon mathematical and medical subjects, chiefly in the
form of dialogue between master and scholar,such as the following:
The first known equation,
The Grounde of Artes, teachings the Worke and Practise, of Arithmeticke, equivalent to 14x+15=71 in
both in whole numbers and fractions(1543),[1] the first English book on modern syntax.
algebra.
The Pathway to Knowledge, containing the First Principles of Geometry ...
bothe for the use of Instrumentes Geometricall and Astronomicall, and also
for Projection of Plattes(London, 1551)
The Castle of Knowledge, containing the Explication of the Sphere both
Celestiall and Materiall, etc.(London, 1556) A book explainingPtolemaic
astronomy while mentioning the Copernican heliocentric modelin passing.
The Whetstone of Witte, whiche is the seconde parte of Arithmeteke:
containing the extraction of rootes; the cossike practise, with the rule of Recorde's introduction of "="
equation; and the workes of Surde Nombers(London, 1557). This was the
book in which the equals sign was introduced. With the publication of this
book Recorde is credited with introducingalgebra into England with a systematic notation.[3][4]
 a medical work, The Urinal of Physick (1548), frequently reprinted.[5]
Several books whose authors are unknown have been attributed to him: Cosmographiae isagoge, De Arte faciendi Horologium and
De Usu Globorum et de Statu temporum.[6]

See also
Equality
Equals sign
Equation
History of mathematical notation
St. Mary's Church, Tenby
The Ground of Arts
Welsh mathematicians
Zenzizenzizenzic – a word to describe a number to the eighth power coined by Robert Recorde.

Notes
1. Johnston, Stephen (2004)."Recorde, Robert (c. 1512–1558)"(http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23241). Oxford
Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/23241(https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fre
f%3Aodnb%2F23241). Retrieved 26 January 2012. (subscription or UK public library membership (http://www.oxforddnb.c
om/help/subscribe#public) required)
2. Newman, James R. (1956).The World of Mathematics.
3. Jourdain, Philip E. B. (1913).The Nature of Mathematics.
4. Robert Recorde, The Whetstone of Witte (London, England: John Kyngstone, 1557),p. 236 (https://archive.org/strea
m/TheWhetstoneOfWitte#page/n237/mode/2up)(although the pages of this book are not numbered). From the
chapter titled "The rule of equation, commonly called Algebers Rule" (p. 236): "Howbeit, for easie alteration of
equations. I will propounde a fewe examples, bicause the extraction of their rootes, maie the more aptly bee
wroughte. And to avoide the tediouse repetition of these woordes: is equalle to: I will sette as I doe often in worke
use, a paire of paralleles, or Gemowe [twin, fromgemew, from the French gemeau (twin / twins), from the Latin
gemellus (little twin)] lines of one lengthe, thus: = , bicause noe .2. thynges, can be moare equalle." (However , for
easy manipulation of equations, I will present a few examples in order that the extraction of roots may be more
readily done. And to avoid the tedious repetition of these words "is equal to", I will substitute, as I often do when
working, a pair of parallels or twin lines of the same length, thus: = , because no two things can be more equal.)
5. The Urinal of Physick (https://books.google.com/books/about/The_urinal_of_physick.html?id=Sax491XagIgC&redir_
esc=y), by Robert Recorde, 1548; atGoogle Books
6. John Hall, "An Historiall Expostulation", p. 60. InEarly English Poetry, Ballads, and Popular Literature of the Middle
Ages, v. XI. London: T. Richards, 1844

References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911)."Recorde,
Robert" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 966.
Newman, James R. (1956). The World of MathematicsVol. 1 Commentary on Robert Recorde
Jourdain, Philip E. B. (1913).The Nature of Mathematics
Roberts, Gareth, and Fenny Smith, eds.Robert Recorde: The Life and Times of a Tudor Mathematician (University
of Wales Press, distributed by University of Chicago Press; 2012) 232 pages
Williams, Jack, Robert Recorde: Tudor Polymath, Expositor and Practitioner of Computation(Heidelberg, Springer,
2011) (History of Computing).
J.W.S. Cassels, Is This a Recorde?, The Mathematical Gazette Vol. 60 No. 411 Mar 1976 p 59-61
Roberts, Gordon, Robert Recorde: Tudor Scholar and Mathematician (University of Wales Press, 2016).
Frank J. Swetz and Victor J. Katz, "Mathematical Treasures - Robert Recorde's Whetstone of Witte," Convergence
(January 2011)
External links
St. Andrew's University Maths History biography
Robert Recorde and other Welsh Mathematicians
100 Welsh Heroes – Robert Recorde
Earliest Uses of Symbols of Relation
Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics This contains numerous quotations from Recorde.
RECORDE (Robert) in Charles Hutton's Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary
Robert Recorde's life and works on h2g2
Current publisher of Robert Recorde's books in the form of original reproductions
Works by Robert Record at Project Gutenberg
Works by or about Robert Recordeat Internet Archive

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Recorde&oldid=887407826

"

This page was last edited on 12 March 2019, at 13:46(UTC).

Text is available under theCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of theWikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.