GAUSS, CARL FRIEDRICH. - THE CALCULUS OF VARIATIONS.

Principia generalia theoriae figurae fluidorum in statu aequilibrii.

(Göttingen, Dieterich, 1830). 4to. Partly uncut. Spine closed with paperlabel. In: "Commentarii Societatis Regiae Scientiarum Gottingensis. Classes Mathematica", Bd. VII. Pp. (39-) 88. Clean and fine.

First appearance of an importent paper in which Gauss introduced a new method in the calculus of variations and a mathematical treatment of forces of attraction.

Gauss had worked on physics already before 1831, publishing "Uber ein neues allgemeines Grundgesetz der Mechanik" , which contained the principle of least constraint, and "Principia generalia theoriae figurae fluidorum in statu aequilibrii" which discussed forces of attraction. These papers were based on Gauss's potential theory, which proved of great importance in his work on physics. He later came to believe his potential theory and his method of least squares provided vital links between science and nature.

"In 1830 appeared Principia generalia theoriae figurae fluidorum in statu aequilibrii, his one contribution to capillarity and an important paper in the calculus of variations, since it was the first solution of a variational problem involving double integrals, boundary conditions, and variable limits."(DSB).

Dunnington, no. 95.- The memoir was reprinted in Ostwald's Klassiker No. 135.

Order-nr.: 44965