Outlines the life and career of this French mathematician who did work in algebra, trigonometry, astronomy and cosmology.

Brief encyclopedia article covers the life of this mathematician who introduced the algebraic symbols and decoded Spanish messages.

French mathematician worked as a code-breaker, calculated pi to nine places, and introduced systematic algebraic notation.

French mathematician introduced the plus and minus symbols, was the first to use letters to stand for variables, and worked out a formula for pi.

Read about the French mathematician's ability to decipher Spanish codes and his solution to a 45th-degree equation.

Known for his publication of "Mathematical Canon," Viete served many mathematical posts within the government during his life.