The Arithmetic of Infinitesimals

Focusing on the seventeenth-century evolution of calculus, this first English translation of John Wallis's Arithmetica Infinitorum (1656) offers modern readers unprecedented access to his groundbreaking ideas. The book includes annotations and an introductory essay that contextualize Wallis's contributions, illustrating how he incorporated recent mathematical innovations and set the stage for Newton's work. It highlights a pivotal transition in mathematics from geometry to arithmetic and algebra as the dominant modes of expression.