Mathematical Treasure: Goursat’s Calculus Classic

Édouard Goursat (1858-1936) was a renowned French analyst who taught for many years at the University of Paris. When his work Cours d'analyse mathématique was first published in 1902-1913, it immediately became a classic of calculus. This study of calculus in three volumes introduced many new concepts into the teaching of the subject: for example, it was the first to attach the name of l’Hospital to “l’Hospital’s Rule” for evaluating limits involving indeterminate forms. In 1904, Earle Raymond Hedrick (1876-1943) translated Volume I of the French work into English.

The “Translator’s Preface” explains the need and desire for such a text in the United States.

The table of “Contents” gives the scope of Volume I.

These images were obtained through the courtesy of the University of California’s Digital Library. The book may be viewed in its entirety in the Internet Archive.

Index to Mathematical Treasures