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Numbers and Infinity: A Historical Account of Mathematical Concepts
Perfect for either undergraduate mathematics or science history courses, this account presents a fresh and detailed reconstruction of the development of two mathematical numbers and infinity. One of the rare texts that offers a friendly and conversational tone, it avoids tedium and controversy while maintaining historical accuracy in defining its concepts' profound mathematical significance.
The authors begin by discussing the representation of numbers, integers and types of numbers, and cubic equations. Additional topics include complex numbers, quaternions, and vectors; Greek notions of infinity; the 17th-century development of the calculus; the concept of functions; and transfinite numbers. The text concludes with an appendix on essay topics, a bibliography, and an index.
The authors begin by discussing the representation of numbers, integers and types of numbers, and cubic equations. Additional topics include complex numbers, quaternions, and vectors; Greek notions of infinity; the 17th-century development of the calculus; the concept of functions; and transfinite numbers. The text concludes with an appendix on essay topics, a bibliography, and an index.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 28, 2018
A short book, but very enjoyable, as historical overviews of math go. It takes a somewhat cyclical, at the very least non-linear, approach to time and progress in mathematical concepts and "discoveries".
At the end a list of study/paper topics is offered. The intention is a framework for encouraging some communication practice in the midst of mathematical education, often overlooked.
The bibliography is making me drool a bit, as it seems terse enough to nibble on but seems rich in the sources it proposes. Very interesting.
At the end a list of study/paper topics is offered. The intention is a framework for encouraging some communication practice in the midst of mathematical education, often overlooked.
The bibliography is making me drool a bit, as it seems terse enough to nibble on but seems rich in the sources it proposes. Very interesting.
October 11, 2015
This book was okay. It seems to be a textbook for a history of mathematics course, but I am not sure. It doesn't really have any problems at the end of each chapter, but there are some essay question suggestions which suggest that this was some kind of textbook.
In any case, it does have an easy smooth style and is easy to follow, but it isn't that enjoyable. It doesn't really go that much into depth for this, though it does contain some information that is relatively common if you are into mathematics.
This book is also quite dated, seeing as how it was written in 1980. It doesn't even have the solution to Fermat's Last Theorem in it, since that came about in 1995 or something. In any case it is an okay book but I don't really think it was great.
In any case, it does have an easy smooth style and is easy to follow, but it isn't that enjoyable. It doesn't really go that much into depth for this, though it does contain some information that is relatively common if you are into mathematics.
This book is also quite dated, seeing as how it was written in 1980. It doesn't even have the solution to Fermat's Last Theorem in it, since that came about in 1995 or something. In any case it is an okay book but I don't really think it was great.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews