He first gave a factorization formula similar to (5) in the case m = 1 [1,p.362]. The general problem was later addressed by his mathematical assistants who aided Euler when he became blind. Unfortunately, their writing was lacking, or as Weil puts it [5,p.222], it was “clumsy” and “hardly convincing.” This state of affairs seems to have continued until the end of the next century when Lucas reconsidered these questions.