Skip to main content
Log in

Euler's invention of integral transforms

  • Published:
Archive for History of Exact Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Euler invented integral transforms in the context of second order differential equations. He used them in a fragment published in 1763 and in a chapter of Institutiones Calculi Integralis (1769). In introducing them he made use of earlier work in which a concept akin to the integral transform is implicit. It would, however, be reading too much into that earlier work to see it as contributing to the theory of the integral transform. Other work sometimes cited in this context in fact has different concerns.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Deakin, M. A. B. (1980), Euler's version of the Laplace transform. Am. Math. Monthly 87, 264–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deakin, M. A. B. (1981), The development of the Laplace transform, 1737–1937: I. Euler to Spitzer, 1737–1880. Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. 25, 343–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deakin, M. A. B. (1982), The development of the Laplace transform, 1737–1937: II. Poincaré to Doetsch, 1880–1937. Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. 26, 351–381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deakin, M. A. B., & A. C. Romano (1983), Euler's invention of integral transforms. Monash University, History of Mathematics Pamphlet 28.

  • Dulac, H. (1936), Preface and Footnotes to Vol. 22, ser. I, of Leonhardi Euleri Opera Omnia (Leipzig & Berlin: Teubner).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eneström, G. (1913), Verzeichnis der Schriften Leonhard Eulers. Jahresb. Deutsch. Math. Verein. Ergänzungsband 4.

  • Eneström, G. (1914), Footnote to S. Pincherle: La transformation de Laplace, Section 22 of Equations et opérations fonctionelles. Enc. Sci. Math. II, 5, 2 (Ed. J. Molk) (Paris: Gauthier-Villars), 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engelsman, S. B. (1982), Families of Curves and the Origins of Partial Differentiation, Dissertation, Rijksuniversiteit, Utrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler, L. (1733), Constructio aequationum quarundam differentialium quae indeterminatarum separationem non admittunt. Nova Acta Erudit., 369–373; Op. Omn. I 22, 15–18. (Referenced in the text as E11.)

  • Euler, L. (1738a), Specimen de constructione aequationum differentialium sine indeterminatarum separatione. Comm. Acad. Sci. Petrop. 6, 168–174; Op. Omn. I 20, 1–7. (E28.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler, L. (1738b), Constructio aequationis differentialis ax n dex=dy+y 2 dx. Comm. Acad. Sci. Petrop. 6, 124–137; Op. Omn. I 22, 19–35. (E31.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler, L. (1740a), De infinitis curvis eiusdem generis seu methodus inveniendi aequationes pro infinitis curvis eiusdem generis. Comm. Acad. Sci. Petrop. 7, 174–189, 180–183 (i.e. 174–193); Op. Omn. I 22, 36–56. (E44.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler, L. (1740b), Additamentum ad dissertatione de infinitis curvis eiusdem generis. Comm. Acad. Sci. Petrop. 7, 184–200; Op. Omn. I 22, 57–75. (E45.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler, L. (1741), De oscillationibus fili flexilis quotcunque pondusculis onusti. Comm. Acad. Sci. Petrop. 8, 30–47; Op. Omn. II 10, 35–49. (E49.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler, L. (1744), De constructione aequationum. Comm. Acad. Sci. Petrop. 9, 85–97; Op. Omn. I 22, 150–161. (E70.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler, L. (1763), Constructio aequationis differentio-differentialis Ay du 2 + (B + Cu) du dy + (D+ Eu Fuu) d dy=0 sumto elemento du constante. Novi Comm. Acad. Sci. Petrop. 8, 150–156. Op. Omn. I 22, 395–402. (E274.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Euler, L. (1769), Institutiones Calculi Integralis, Vol. 2 (Book 1, Part 2, Section 1). (St. Petersburg: Imp. Acad. Sci.). Reprinted as Op. Omn. I 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nečas, J. (1969), Integral Transforms (Operational Calculus). In Survey of Applicable Mathematics (Ed. K. Rectorys) (London: Iliffe), 1125–1136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Truesdell, C. (1960), The Rational Mechanics of Flexible or Elastic Bodies, 1638–1788. Published as Euler, Op. Omn. II 11(2).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by C. Truesdell

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Deakin, M.A.B. Euler's invention of integral transforms. Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. 33, 307–319 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348586

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348586

Keywords

Navigation