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This entry contributed by Michel Barran
French mathematician who, in 1763, was appointed teacher and examiner in mathematical sciences for young would-be naval
officers, the "gardes du Pavillon et de la Marine." In 1768, he took up similar duties for the "Corps
d'Artillerie." He was a member of Académie de Marine and of Académie des Sciences (1758). Among his published
works are the courses of lectures he gave to his students, including a six volume comprehensive work entitled Cours
de mathématique. This work also promulgated the works of Euler, d'Alembert, Maclaurin, etc.
In the early 19th century, his textbooks were translated into English for use in America schools. According to
J. V. Grabiner, "These translations considerably influenced the form and content of American education in the 19th
century" (Gillispie). Bézout studied linear equation systems and elimination theory, including the systematic use of
determinants. Bézout gave results similar to Cramer's rule  and presented Bézout's
theorem, which proves that two algebraic curves of degrees m and n have mn common points.
Additional biographies: MacTutor (St. Andrews)
Bézout, É. Sur les coubes dont la rectification dépend d'une quantité donnée. Paris, 1758.
Bézout, É. Cours de mathématiques, à l'usage des Gardes du Pavillon et de la Marine, avec un traité de navigation, 6 vols. Paris, 1764-69.
Bézout, É. Cours de mathématiques à l'usage du Corps Royal de l'Artillerie, 4 vols. Paris, 1770-72.
Bézout, É. Théorie générale des équations algébriques. Paris: Bachelier, 1779.
Bézout, É. Cours complet de mathématiques, à l'usage de la marine et de l'artillerie, 6 vols. Paris: Bachelier, 1780.
Poggendorff, J. C. Biographisch-literarisches Handwörterbuch zur Geschichte der exacten Wissenschaften enthaltend Nachweisungen über
Lebensverhältnisse und Leistungen von Mathematikern, Astronomen, Physikern, Chemikern, Mineralogen, Geologen usw. aller Völker und Zeiten, Vol. 1.
Leipzig, Germany: J. A. Barth, 1863.
Quérard, J. M. La France Littéraire, ou Dictionnaire Bibliographique, tome VII.
Paris: Maisonneuve et Larose, 1964.
© 1996-2007 Eric W. Weisstein
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