A History Of The Mathematical Theory Of Probability: From The Time Of Pascal To That Of Laplace

by Isaac Todhunter

""A History of the Mathematical Theory of From the Time of Pascal to that of Laplace"" is a book written by Isaac Todhunter and first published in 1865. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the development of probability theory from its early beginnings in the 17th century to its more advanced state in the early 19th century.The book focuses on the contributions of key mathematicians such as Blaise Pascal, Pierre de Fermat, Jacob Bernoulli, Thomas Bayes, and Pierre-Simon Laplace. It explores the different approaches and techniques used by these mathematicians to develop the theory of probability, including the use of combinatorics, calculus, and the law of large numbers.The book also discusses the application of probability theory in various fields such as astronomy, physics, and economics. It provides a detailed account of the debates and controversies surrounding the development of the theory, including the role of intuition and the use of mathematical models.Overall, ""A History of the Mathematical Theory of Probability"" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of mathematics or the development of probability theory. It provides a clear and concise overview of the key developments and debates that have shaped the theory over the centuries.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Mathematics, Science, History

640 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1949

About the author

English mathematician known for his writings on the history of mathematics.

Reviews

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most authoritive 19th century history of the development of modern probability theory. Modern readers will not find it easy to read. By modern standards, the prose is dense. The mathematical notation is somewhat antiquated. But for those who are interested in where modern probability came from, it is indispensible. The book was reprinted a few years ago in a bulky paperback edition. There are also electronic, PDF, editions on the web. Todhunter was a very interesting chronicler of the development of mathematical ideas. He also wrote on the history of the Calculus.