1-29-1697

Newton received two challenge problems from Johann Bernoulli, one of which was the Brachistochrone Problem published in Acta eruditorum the previous June and addressed "to the shrewdest mathematicians in the world." The next day Newton posted his solution to the Royal Society. When Bernoulli saw the anonymous solution, he recognized it as "ex ungue leonem" (as the lion is recognized by his paw).

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Isaac Newton
Johann Bernoulli
The Brachistochrone Problem