"witch of Agnesi"

KatherinH (KatherinH@edc.org)
Wed, 19 Nov 1997 13:42:57 -0500


Dear EdEquity Colleagues...this was forwarded to me and I want to share
it...does anyone have a response? Would also love to know more about maria
Agnesi...was she a lone female mathematician? Was that what made her work linked
as "witch" I'd love to know more.

Katherine Hanson, WEEA Resource Center
katherinh@edc.org
_______________________________________________________________________________
Subject: "witch of Agnesi"
From: Women In Science and Engineering NETwork <WISENET@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU>
at Internet
Date: 11/19/97 11:04

I am preparing a short review article on women in science in the eighteenth
century. According to historians of math, Maria Agnesi's formaulation of
the vesiera, or cubic curve, has come to be known as the "witch of Agnesi."
Does anyone know why? Many thanks. Londa Schiebinger

Londa Schiebinger
Professor of History of Science and Women's Studies
Department of History
312 Weaver Building Tel.: 814-863-7303
Pennsylvania State University Fax: 814-863-7840
University Park, PA 16802 E-Mail: LLS10@psu.edu
USA


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