Making up Numbers: A History of Invention in Mathematics

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Author :
Publisher : Open Book Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1800640978
Total Pages : 280 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (6 download)

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Book Synopsis Making up Numbers: A History of Invention in Mathematics by : Ekkehard Kopp

Download or read book Making up Numbers: A History of Invention in Mathematics written by Ekkehard Kopp and published by Open Book Publishers. This book was released on 2020-10-23 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Making up Numbers: A History of Invention in Mathematics offers a detailed but accessible account of a wide range of mathematical ideas. Starting with elementary concepts, it leads the reader towards aspects of current mathematical research. The book explains how conceptual hurdles in the development of numbers and number systems were overcome in the course of history, from Babylon to Classical Greece, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, and so to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The narrative moves from the Pythagorean insistence on positive multiples to the gradual acceptance of negative numbers, irrationals and complex numbers as essential tools in quantitative analysis. Within this chronological framework, chapters are organised thematically, covering a variety of topics and contexts: writing and solving equations, geometric construction, coordinates and complex numbers, perceptions of ‘infinity’ and its permissible uses in mathematics, number systems, and evolving views of the role of axioms. Through this approach, the author demonstrates that changes in our understanding of numbers have often relied on the breaking of long-held conventions to make way for new inventions at once providing greater clarity and widening mathematical horizons. Viewed from this historical perspective, mathematical abstraction emerges as neither mysterious nor immutable, but as a contingent, developing human activity. Making up Numbers will be of great interest to undergraduate and A-level students of mathematics, as well as secondary school teachers of the subject. In virtue of its detailed treatment of mathematical ideas, it will be of value to anyone seeking to learn more about the development of the subject.

Making Up Numbers

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781800640962
Total Pages : 280 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (49 download)

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Book Synopsis Making Up Numbers by : Ekkehard Kopp

Download or read book Making Up Numbers written by Ekkehard Kopp and published by . This book was released on 2020-10-15 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Making up Numbers: A History of Invention in Mathematics offers a detailed but accessible account of a wide range of mathematical ideas. Starting with elementary concepts, it leads the reader towards aspects of current mathematical research. The book explains how conceptual hurdles in the development of numbers and number systems were overcome in the course of history, from Babylon to Classical Greece, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, and so to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The narrative moves from the Pythagorean insistence on positive multiples to the gradual acceptance of negative numbers, irrationals and complex numbers as essential tools in quantitative analysis. Within this chronological framework, chapters are organised thematically, covering a variety of topics and contexts: writing and solving equations, geometric construction, coordinates and complex numbers, perceptions of 'infinity' and its permissible uses in mathematics, number systems, and evolving views of the role of axioms. Through this approach, the author demonstrates that changes in our understanding of numbers have often relied on the breaking of long-held conventions to make way for new inventions at once providing greater clarity and widening mathematical horizons. Viewed from this historical perspective, mathematical abstraction emerges as neither mysterious nor immutable, but as a contingent, developing human activity. Making up Numbers will be of great interest to undergraduate and A-level students of mathematics, as well as secondary school teachers of the subject. In virtue of its detailed treatment of mathematical ideas, it will be of value to anyone seeking to learn more about the development of the subject.

Numbers and the Making of Us

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Author :
Publisher : Harvard University Press
ISBN 13 : 0674504437
Total Pages : 308 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (745 download)

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Book Synopsis Numbers and the Making of Us by : Caleb Everett

Download or read book Numbers and the Making of Us written by Caleb Everett and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2017-03-13 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A fascinating book.” —James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review A Smithsonian Best Science Book of the Year Winner of the PROSE Award for Best Book in Language & Linguistics Carved into our past and woven into our present, numbers shape our perceptions of the world far more than we think. In this sweeping account of how the invention of numbers sparked a revolution in human thought and culture, Caleb Everett draws on new discoveries in psychology, anthropology, and linguistics to reveal the many things made possible by numbers, from the concept of time to writing, agriculture, and commerce. Numbers are a tool, like the wheel, developed and refined over millennia. They allow us to grasp quantities precisely, but recent research confirms that they are not innate—and without numbers, we could not fully grasp quantities greater than three. Everett considers the number systems that have developed in different societies as he shares insights from his fascinating work with indigenous Amazonians. “This is bold, heady stuff... The breadth of research Everett covers is impressive, and allows him to develop a narrative that is both global and compelling... Numbers is eye-opening, even eye-popping.” —New Scientist “A powerful and convincing case for Everett’s main thesis: that numbers are neither natural nor innate to humans.” —Wall Street Journal

The Universal History of Numbers

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Author :
Publisher : Wiley
ISBN 13 : 9780471393405
Total Pages : 660 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (934 download)

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Book Synopsis The Universal History of Numbers by : Georges Ifrah

Download or read book The Universal History of Numbers written by Georges Ifrah and published by Wiley. This book was released on 2000-10-09 with total page 660 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Georges Ifrah is the man. This book, quite simply, rules. . . . It is outstanding . . . a mind-boggling and enriching experience." –The Guardian (London) "Monumental. . . . a fascinating journey taking us through many different cultures."–The Times (London)"Ifrah’s book amazes and fascinates by the scope of its scholarship. It is nothing less than the history of the human race told through figures." –International Herald Tribune Now in paperback, here is Georges Ifrah’s landmark international bestseller–the first complete, universal study of the invention and evolution of numbers the world over. A riveting history of counting and calculating, from the time of the cave dwellers to the twentieth century, this fascinating volume brings numbers to thrilling life, explaining their development in human terms, the intriguing situations that made them necessary, and the brilliant achievements in human thought that they made possible. It takes us through the numbers story from Europe to China, via ancient Greece and Rome, Mesopotamia, Latin America, India, and the Arabic countries. Exploring the many ways civilizations developed and changed their mathematical systems, Ifrah imparts a unique insight into the nature of human thought–and into how our understanding of numbers and the ways they shape our lives have changed and grown over thousands of years. "Dazzling."–Kirkus Reviews "Sure to transfix readers."–PublishersWeekly

The Invention of Numbers

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Author :
Publisher : Weidenfeld & Nicolson
ISBN 13 : 9781844039111
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (391 download)

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Book Synopsis The Invention of Numbers by : Peter Bentley

Download or read book The Invention of Numbers written by Peter Bentley and published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. This book was released on 2016-08-11 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Numbers are at the heart of the existence of the universe and everything in it, and yet a lot of us have little understanding of their creation, let alone their part in philosophy, art, music, physics, literature, religion and computing. Dr Bentley's fascinating history of the origins of numbers will unlock the secrets of these things that we take for granted and shows how numbers seem to take on human characteristiscs - as they can be perfect or irrational, amicable or prime, real or imaginary. From zero to infinity, learn about the way numbers have shaped our world, discover amazing facts and enjoy the pure beauty of mathematical logic.

The Universal History of Numbers

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Author :
Publisher : Harvill Press
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 702 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (355 download)

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Book Synopsis The Universal History of Numbers by : Georges Ifrah

Download or read book The Universal History of Numbers written by Georges Ifrah and published by Harvill Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 702 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book explores the science of numeration as it has developed all over the world, from Europe to China, via the Classical World, Mesopotamia, South America and, above all, India and the Arab lands.

Wonders Beyond Numbers

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472939964
Total Pages : 481 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (729 download)

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Book Synopsis Wonders Beyond Numbers by : Johnny Ball

Download or read book Wonders Beyond Numbers written by Johnny Ball and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2017-10-05 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, Johnny Ball tells one of the most important stories in world history – the story of mathematics. By introducing us to the major characters and leading us through many historical twists and turns, Johnny slowly unravels the tale of how humanity built up a knowledge and understanding of shapes, numbers and patterns from ancient times, a story that leads directly to the technological wonderland we live in today. As Galileo said, 'Everything in the universe is written in the language of mathematics', and Wonders Beyond Numbers is your guide to this language. Mathematics is only one part of this rich and varied tale; we meet many fascinating personalities along the way, such as a mathematician who everyone has heard of but who may not have existed; a Greek philosopher who made so many mistakes that many wanted his books destroyed; a mathematical artist who built the largest masonry dome on earth, which builders had previously declared impossible; a world-renowned painter who discovered mathematics and decided he could no longer stand the sight of a brush; and a philosopher who lost his head, but only after he had died. Enriched with tales of colourful personalities and remarkable discoveries, this book also has plenty of mathematics for keen readers to get stuck into. Written in Johnny Ball's characteristically light-hearted and engaging style, it is packed with historical insight and mathematical marvels; join Johnny and uncover the wonders found beyond the numbers.

Java Application Performance and Memory Management

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Author :
Publisher : Multicode Ltd
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 198 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (59 download)

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Book Synopsis Java Application Performance and Memory Management by : Matt Greencroft

Download or read book Java Application Performance and Memory Management written by Matt Greencroft and published by Multicode Ltd. This book was released on 2022-02-02 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The process to transition from being a new Java developer to a confident and competent coder is a difficult one. In this book, author and long-time Java trainer Matt Greencroft guides you through some of the topics that will help you make significant steps along this journey. It is packed with important topics that experienced programmers should know and understand, together with practical advice on how to tune your applications and the JVM to get the best possible performance. Rather than containing a theoretical, highly detailed understanding of the internals of the Java Virtual Machine, this book takes a practical approach. You’ll learn enough to get a good understanding of how the JVM works and how memory is managed in Java, how to make great coding choices, how to configure the JVM, and how to evaluate and benchmark different options to assess their performance metrics in a robust and manageable way. Whether you have an existing application with performance issues to address, have taken one of Matt’s courses and are selecting this book as supporting material, or are simply wanting to advance your career by becoming a better programmer, this book will give you lots of stills and practical experience.

Finding Zero

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Publisher : Macmillan + ORM
ISBN 13 : 1466879106
Total Pages : 199 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (668 download)

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Book Synopsis Finding Zero by : Amir D. Aczel

Download or read book Finding Zero written by Amir D. Aczel and published by Macmillan + ORM. This book was released on 2015-01-06 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The invention of numerals is perhaps the greatest abstraction the human mind has ever created. Virtually everything in our lives is digital, numerical, or quantified. The story of how and where we got these numerals, which we so depend on, has for thousands of years been shrouded in mystery. Finding Zero is an adventure filled saga of Amir Aczel's lifelong obsession: to find the original sources of our numerals. Aczel has doggedly crisscrossed the ancient world, scouring dusty, moldy texts, cross examining so-called scholars who offered wildly differing sets of facts, and ultimately penetrating deep into a Cambodian jungle to find a definitive proof. Here, he takes the reader along for the ride. The history begins with the early Babylonian cuneiform numbers, followed by the later Greek and Roman letter numerals. Then Aczel asks the key question: where do the numbers we use today, the so-called Hindu-Arabic numerals, come from? It is this search that leads him to explore uncharted territory, to go on a grand quest into India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and ultimately into the wilds of Cambodia. There he is blown away to find the earliest zero—the keystone of our entire system of numbers—on a crumbling, vine-covered wall of a seventh-century temple adorned with eaten-away erotic sculptures. While on this odyssey, Aczel meets a host of fascinating characters: academics in search of truth, jungle trekkers looking for adventure, surprisingly honest politicians, shameless smugglers, and treacherous archaeological thieves—who finally reveal where our numbers come from.

Introduction to Systems Biology

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Publisher : Open Book Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1800644124
Total Pages : 172 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (6 download)

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Book Synopsis Introduction to Systems Biology by : Thomas Sauter

Download or read book Introduction to Systems Biology written by Thomas Sauter and published by Open Book Publishers. This book was released on 2023-03-09 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is an introduction to the language of systems biology, which is spoken among many disciplines, from biology to engineering. Authors Thomas Sauter and Marco Albrecht draw on a multidisciplinary background and evidence-based learning to facilitate the understanding of biochemical networks, metabolic modeling and system dynamics. Their pedagogic approach briefly highlights core ideas of concepts in a broader interdisciplinary framework to guide a more effective deep dive thereafter. The learning journey starts with the purity of mathematical concepts, reveals its power to connect biological entities in structure and time, and finally introduces physics concepts to tightly align abstraction with reality. This workbook is all about self-paced learning, supports the flipped-classroom concept, and kick-starts with scientific evidence on studying. Each chapter comes with links to external YouTube videos, learning checklists, and Integrated real-world examples to gain confidence in thinking across scientific perspectives. The result is an integrated approach that opens a line of communication between theory and application, enabling readers to actively learn as they read. This overview of capturing and analyzing the behavior of biological systems will interest adherers of systems biology and network analysis, as well as related fields such as bioinformatics, biology, cybernetics, and data science.

Journey through Mathematics

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Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 0387921540
Total Pages : 479 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (879 download)

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Book Synopsis Journey through Mathematics by : Enrique A. González-Velasco

Download or read book Journey through Mathematics written by Enrique A. González-Velasco and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-08-08 with total page 479 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers an accessible and in-depth look at some of the most important episodes of two thousand years of mathematical history. Beginning with trigonometry and moving on through logarithms, complex numbers, infinite series, and calculus, this book profiles some of the lesser known but crucial contributors to modern day mathematics. It is unique in its use of primary sources as well as its accessibility; a knowledge of first-year calculus is the only prerequisite. But undergraduate and graduate students alike will appreciate this glimpse into the fascinating process of mathematical creation. The history of math is an intercontinental journey, and this book showcases brilliant mathematicians from Greece, Egypt, and India, as well as Europe and the Islamic world. Several of the primary sources have never before been translated into English. Their interpretation is thorough and readable, and offers an excellent background for teachers of high school mathematics as well as anyone interested in the history of math.

Reckonings

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Publisher : MIT Press
ISBN 13 : 026236087X
Total Pages : 265 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (623 download)

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Book Synopsis Reckonings by : Stephen Chrisomalis

Download or read book Reckonings written by Stephen Chrisomalis and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2020-12-15 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Insights from the history of numerical notation suggest that how humans write numbers is an active choice involving cognitive and social factors. Over the past 5,000 years, more than 100 methods of numerical notation--distinct ways of writing numbers--have been developed and used by specific communities. Most of these are barely known today; where they are known, they are often derided as cognitively cumbersome and outdated. In Reckonings, Stephen Chrisomalis considers how humans past and present use numerals, reinterpreting historical and archaeological representations of numerical notation and exploring the implications of why we write numbers with figures rather than words.

The Universal History Of Numbers 2: The Modern Number-System

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780143032588
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (325 download)

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Book Synopsis The Universal History Of Numbers 2: The Modern Number-System by : Georges Ifrah

Download or read book The Universal History Of Numbers 2: The Modern Number-System written by Georges Ifrah and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Numbers Are One Of Two Creations (The Other Being The Alphabet) Of The Human Spirit Which Have Given Us Today S World. The Three Volumes Of The Universal History Of Numbers Are Probably The First Comprehensive History Of Numbers And Of Counting From Prehistory To The Modern Age. They Are Also The Story Of How The Human Race Has Learnt To Think Logically. In Volume 2, Georges Ifrah Continues The Story Of The Invention Of The Modern Number-System By Telling Us How Indian Civilization Became The Cradle Of Modern Numerals With The Invention Of The Place Value System And Of Zero. Twenty-One Geographically Different Indian Numerical Notations Of The Nine Numerals And The Zero Are Explained Individually With Illustrations. A Detailed Dictionary Of Indian Numerical Symbols, Recorded Alphabetically, Gives The Reader A Better Idea Of The Subtle And Complicated World Of Numbers Which Derived From The Genius Of Indian Mathematicians Working In The Late Middle Ages. It Was Arab Scholars Who Brought The System To The West. If Western Mathematical Progress Today Looks Dazzling, It Is Because It Stands On A Solid Non-Western Foundation. Amazing, Captivating And Enriching, The Universal History Of Numbers Is A Must Read Not Only For Specialists And Academics, But Also For The Average Reader Who Is Interested In The Development Of Civilization.

The History of Mathematics

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Publisher : WCB/McGraw-Hill
ISBN 13 : 9780697068552
Total Pages : 544 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (685 download)

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Book Synopsis The History of Mathematics by : David M. Burton

Download or read book The History of Mathematics written by David M. Burton and published by WCB/McGraw-Hill. This book was released on 1985 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The History of Mathematics: An Introduction," Sixth Edition, is written for the one- or two-semester math history course taken by juniors or seniors, and covers the history behind the topics typically covered in an undergraduate math curriculum or in elementary schools or high schools. Elegantly written in David Burton's imitable prose, this classic text provides rich historical context to the mathematics that undergrad math and math education majors encounter every day. Burton illuminates the people, stories, and social context behind mathematics'greatest historical advances while maintaining appropriate focus on the mathematical concepts themselves. Its wealth of information, mathematical and historical accuracy, and renowned presentation make The History of Mathematics: An Introduction, Sixth Edition a valuable resource that teachers and students will want as part of a permanent library.

The Story Of Numbers

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Author :
Publisher : #N/A
ISBN 13 : 9813222948
Total Pages : 197 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (132 download)

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Book Synopsis The Story Of Numbers by : Asok Kumar Mallik

Download or read book The Story Of Numbers written by Asok Kumar Mallik and published by #N/A. This book was released on 2017-07-27 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: '… this could make an ideal end-of-year prize for a high-school student who is fascinated by all aspects of number. The subsections provide ideas and opportunities for mathematical exploration. This book might also be deemed a suitable resource for first-year undergraduates in that, via independent study, it would allow such students to broaden their knowledge of various number-theoretic ideas. I would recommend it for the purposes given above.'The Mathematical GazetteThis book is more than a mathematics textbook. It discusses various kinds of numbers and curious interconnections between them. Without getting into hardcore and difficult mathematical technicalities, the book lucidly introduces all kinds of numbers that mathematicians have created. Interesting anecdotes involving great mathematicians and their marvelous creations are included. The reader will get a glimpse of the thought process behind the invention of new mathematics. Starting from natural numbers, the book discusses integers, real numbers, imaginary and complex numbers and some special numbers like quaternions, dual numbers and p-adic numbers.Real numbers include rational, irrational and transcendental numbers. Iterations on real numbers are shown to throw up some unexpected behavior, which has given rise to the new science of 'Chaos'. Special numbers like e, pi, golden ratio, Euler's constant, Gauss's constant, amongst others, are discussed in great detail.The origin of imaginary numbers and the use of complex numbers constitute the next topic. It is shown why modern mathematics cannot even be imagined without imaginary numbers. Iterations on complex numbers are shown to generate a new mathematical object called 'Fractal', which is ubiquitous in nature. Finally, some very special numbers, not mentioned in the usual textbooks, and their applications, are introduced at an elementary level.The level of mathematics discussed in this book is easily accessible to young adults interested in mathematics, high school students, and adults having some interest in basic mathematics. The book concentrates more on the story than on rigorous mathematics.

The Life and Works of John Napier

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319532820
Total Pages : 1009 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (195 download)

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Book Synopsis The Life and Works of John Napier by : Brian Rice

Download or read book The Life and Works of John Napier written by Brian Rice and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-03-09 with total page 1009 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For the first time, all five of John Napier’s works have been brought together in English in a single volume, making them more accessible than ever before. His four mathematical works were originally published in Latin: two in his lifetime (1550–1617), one shortly after he died, and one over 200 years later. The authors have prepared three introductory chapters, one covering Napier himself, one his mathematical works, and one his religious work. The former has been prepared by one of Napier’s descendants and contains many new findings about Napier’s life to provide the most complete biography of this enigmatic character, whose reputation has previously been overshadowed by rumour and speculation. The latter has been written by an academic who was awarded a PhD for his thesis on Napier at the University of Edinburgh, and it provides the most lucid and coherent coverage available of this abstruse and little understood work. The chapter on Napier’s mathematical texts has been authored by an experienced and respected academic, whose recent works have specialised in the history of mathematics and whose Journey through Mathematics was selected in March of 2012 as an Outstanding Title in Mathematics by Choice magazine, a publication of the American Library Association. All three authors have revisited the primary sources extensively and deliver new insights about Napier and his works, whilst revising the many myths and assumptions that surround his life and character.

Number

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Author :
Publisher : Dutton Juvenile
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 426 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (321 download)

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Book Synopsis Number by : Tobias Dantzig

Download or read book Number written by Tobias Dantzig and published by Dutton Juvenile. This book was released on 2005 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the rudimentary mathematical abilities of prehistoric man to bizarre ideas at the edges of modern math, here is the story of mathematics through the history of its most central concept: number. Dantzig demonstrates that the evolution of numbers is inextricably linked with the history of human culture. He shows how advances in math were spurred by the demands of growing commerce in the ancient world; how the pure speculation of philosophers and religious mystics contributed to our understanding of numbers; how the exchange of ideas between cultures in times of war and imperial conquest fueled advances in knowledge; how the forces of history combine with human intuition to trigger revolutions in thought. Dantzig's exposition of the foundations and philosophy of math is accessible to all readers. He explores many of the most fascinating topics in math, such as the properties of numbers, the invention of zero, and infinity. First published in 1930, this book is, beyond doubt, the best book on the evolution of mathematics-now again in print.