2. Rene Descartes “Stay-in-Bed Scholar” “Gentleman, Soldier, and Mathematician” Born on March 31, 1596 Died on February 11, 1650

3. Childhood s As a child was very weak and was always sick. s He had been picked on by bullies for it. s He was inspired to do math by his mother. s Little did he know he would be affected by not doing math as a child.

4. Education He went Jesuit school of La Fleche in Anjou, France at eight years old. s He went Jesuit school of La Fleche in Anjou, France at eight years old. s He studied mathematics and Scholastic philosophy. s He studied law at the University of Poitiers. s He graduated from the University in 1616. s He never practiced law.

5. Accomplishments s He graduated the University of Poitiers. s He changed math by dicovering the X and Y axis. s He wrote the book SEEKING THE TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES. (1637) s Descartes did not revise geometry; he created it.

6. A Sad Day in France s Rene Descartes died February in 1650. s The best known cause for his death was from a cold. s He died in Sweden at 5:00 am during a philosophy session. s He died in the castle of Cartesian Christia.

7. Bibliography s Deal, Seymour. Mathematicians are People, Too. pg- 35 to 43. s “Descartes,” Encarta, Microsoft, 1997. s Bells, ET. Men of Mathematics, pg- 35-55.