Leonhard Euler made the algebraic error multiplying square roots of negative numbers

the verdict

SUPPORTED

the evidence backs this

Recorded sources

2 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Historical sources and mathematical discussions confirm that Leonhard Euler wrote out the multiplication of square roots of negative numbers in a way that modern mathematicians call an error, though it aligned with his own definitions at the time.

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Judged against reference works: claims of this kind are settled by the historical reference record, not journal abstracts.

Evidence for · 2

tandfonline.com: Euler's “Mistake”? The Radical Product Rule in Historical Perspective

Recorded source metadata

tandfonline.com: Euler's “Mistake”? The Radical Product Rule in Historical Perspective. tandfonline.com. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00029890.2007.11920416

The article title explicitly addresses Euler's alleged mistake with the radical product rule.

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More for · 1

skeptics.stackexchange.com: Did Euler make the elementary mistake √-2 √-3 = √6?

Recorded source metadata

skeptics.stackexchange.com: Did Euler make the elementary mistake √-2 √-3 = √6?. skeptics.stackexchange.com. https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/47874/did-euler-make-the-elementary-mistake-%e2%88%9a-2-%e2%88%9a-3-%e2%88%9a6

Confirms Euler wrote that expression, though notes it followed his own definitions.

Source citation format

The paper trail · every fact has a biography

first checked31 Jul 2026

judged → SUPPORTED · 7531 Jul 2026

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