The Hindu-Arabic Numerals c12.46

c12.46

The first definite trace that we have of an algorism in the French language is found in a manuscript written about 1275.⁴ This interesting leaf, for the part on algorism consists of a single folio, was noticed by the Abbé Lebœuf as early as 1741,⁵ and by Daunou in 1824.⁶ It then seems to have been lost in the multitude of Paris manuscripts; for although Chasles⁷ relates his vain search for it, it was not rediscovered until 1882. In that year M. Ch. Henry found it, and to his care we owe our knowledge of the interesting manuscript. The work is anonymous and is devoted almost entirely to geometry, only two pages (one folio) relating to arithmetic. In these the forms of the numerals are given, and a very brief statement as to the operations, it being evident that the writer himself had only the slightest understanding of the subject.