Silvestre François Lacroix (Paris, 1765 - ibid., 1843) was a most influential mathematical book author. His most famous work is the three-volume Traité du calcul différentiel et du calcul intégral (1797-1800; 2 nd ed. 1810-1819) an encyclopedic appraisal of 18th-century calculus which remained the standard reference on the subject through much of the 19 th century, in spite of Cauchy's reform of the subject in the 1820's.

Lacroix and the Calculus is the first major study of Lacroix's large Traité. It uses the unique and massive bibliography given by Lacroix to explore late 18 th -century calculus, and the way it is reflected in Lacroix's account. Several particular aspects are addressed in detail, including: the foundations of differential calculus, analytic and differential geometry, conceptions of the integral, and types of solutions of differential equations (singular/complete/general integrals, geometrical interpretations, and generality ofarbitrary functions).

First global and detailed study of Lacroix's Traité du calcul Compares this major reference work with its background and sources Includes transcriptions of Lacroix's research manuscripts, and of documents related to the teaching of analysis at the École Polytechnique

Inhalt
A short biography of Silvestre-François Lacroix.- An overview of Lacroix's Traité.- The principles of the calculus.- Analytic and differential geometry.- Approximate integration and conceptions of the integral.- Types of solutions of differential equations.- Aspects of differences and series.- The Traité élémentaire.- The second edition of Lacroix's Traité.- Final remarks.