[QUOTE=Numbers]As it doesn't look like anyone is going to get this any time soon, here is the answer.

[spoiler]Mathworld says that Vieta proved this formula (for positive roots only)[/spoiler]
[spoiler]in 1646. Pretty good going for a guy who had been dead for 43 years.[/spoiler][/QUOTE]
To paraphrase Tom Lehrer: it makes me realise how little I've achieved when I think that by the time Alan Turing was my age he'd been dead for 5 years.


Paul

Francois Vieta
 

[QUOTE=xilman]To paraphrase Tom Lehrer: it makes me realise how little I've achieved when I think that by the time Alan Turing was my age he'd been dead for 5 years.
Paul[/QUOTE]
:smile:
In my book it is the effort that counts not the results
Mally :coffee:

[QUOTE=nibble4bits]Insanify: To force to insanity. To make someone think "What the?!"
[/QUOTE]

The opposite of sensiblise, then?

[QUOTE=fatphil]The opposite of sensiblise, then?[/QUOTE]
I spell it with a 'ize' but yes. heh