Other Mathematics Commons^™

François Viète, Between Analysis And Cryptanalysis, Marco Panza

MPP Published Research

François Viète is considered the father both of modern algebra and of modern cryptanalysis. The paper outlines Viète's major contributions in these two mathematical fields and argues that, despite an obvious parallel between them, there is an essential difference. Viète's 'new algebra' relies on his reform of the classical method of analysis and synthesis, in particular on a new conception of analysis and the introduction of a new formalism. The procedures he suggests to decrypt coded messages are particular forms of analysis based on the use of formal methods. However, Viète's algebraic analysis is not an analysis in the same …