Misnomers in Mathematics Part 2

The history of mathematics abounds in concepts each bearing the name of some great discoverer or diligent student of that concept. From ancient times we see the emergence of Euclidean geometry or its more recent counterparts, that is, the geometries of Riemann and Lobachevski. Number theory, likewise an ancient discipline (as seen for example in the Elements) has unfolded in such a way as to encompass such terms as Mersenne and Fermat primes, Gaussian integers, and Wilson's theorem. Ranging over still other disciplines, many cornerstones of mathematics stand out, such as the Cardan- Tartaglia method for solving cubic equations, the Euclid-Whitehead contributions of twentieth century advancements in logic, or in analytical references such as the integrals of Stieltjes, Lebesgue, and others. The list of named propositions is a lengthy one and can hardly be dealt with justly in a single paper.

Of course, the standard by which names are given these gems of mathematics is not all so clear. In the judgment of some, various of these labels are misleading, confusing, and possibly misnomers. Puzzling labels point to a hallmark of mathematical fame and include the few which follow.