1323-1382

French Mathematician

Nicole d'Oresme, sometimes referred to as Nicole Oresme or Nicholas of Oresme, pioneered the use of fractional exponents, and developed a type of coordinate geometry centuries before René Descartes (1596-1650). He discussed the Earth's rotation as well, and further distinguished himself with his writings on economics and his service to France's King Charles V.

Born in Normandy, Nicole studied theology and later enrolled in the College of Navarre at the University of Paris. He served as master of the college from 1356-1361, and in 1370 became royal chaplain in the court of Charles V. Much of his most important mathematical work dates from the 1360s.

In one book, published in about 1360, Nicole made the first use of fractional exponents, or fractional powers. (The notation in use today for expressing this idea, however, had not yet been developed.) Elsewhere he discussed...