It's the classic resource on the history of math. From the early Greek influences to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century, trace the fascinating foundation of mathematics as it developed through the ages. Aristotle, Galileo, Kepler, Newton: you know the names. Now here's what they really did, and the effect their discoveries had on our culture, all explained in a way the layperson can understand. Begin with the basis of arithmetic (Plato and the introduction of geometry), and discover why the use of Arabic numerals was critical to the development of both commerce and science. The development of calculus made space travel a reality, while the abacus prefigured the computer. The greats examined in depth include Leonardo da Vinci, a brilliant mathematician as well as artist; Pascal, who laid out the theory of probabilities; and Fermat, whose intriguing theory has only recently been solved.
- ISBN10 1402700547
- ISBN13 9781402700545
- Publish Date 1 May 2003
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 25 December 2011
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Sterling Publishing Co Inc
- Imprint Sterling
- Edition 2001st Special Sales/Trade ed.
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 522
- Language English