Re: origin/history of the term "exterior derivative"

bobovski wrote:

>> Can anyone out there give me any insight on why the term "exterior
>> derivative" is called "exterior"?

> I guess it's because it's a differential operator (in particular, it
> satisfies the Leibnitz rule) on the exterior algebra of differential
> forms. Now, as to why that algebra is called "exterior"...someone else
> might have an idea.

I suppose it is as opposed to the "internal" algebra
you get when you multiply matrices, complex numbers, etc.

But I've no idea who introduced the term.
Sounds like a French invention to me.

--
Timothy Murphy
e-mail (<80k only): tim /at/ birdsnest.maths.tcd.ie
tel: +353-86-2336090, +353-1-2842366
s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
.

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