Diophantus [key], fl. a.d. 250, Greek algebraist. He pioneered in solving a type of indeterminate algebraic equation where one seeks integer values for the unknowns; work in this field is known as Diophantine analysis. Only 6 of the 13 books with which he is credited are extant. The standard edition in Greek was edited by Paul Tannery (2 vol., 1893–95).
See study and English translation by T. L. Heath (2d ed. 1910, repr. 1964).
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