In the Foreword of his Die Lineale Ausdehnungslehre, ein neuer Zweig der Mathematik (Linear Extension Theory, a new branch of mathematics) (1844) Grassmann described how he was led to these ideas starting around 1832.
Sa pambungad ng kanyang Die Lineale Ausdehnungslehre, EIN neuer Zweig der Mathematik (Linear extension teorya, isang bagong sangay ng matematika) (1844) Grassmann inilarawan kung paano siya humantong sa mga ideya sa paligid ng simula 1832.