The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension, 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics

Portada
Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2009 - 527 pàgines

Math’s infinite mysteries and beauty unfold in this follow-up to the best-selling The Science Book. Beginning millions of years ago with ancient “ant odometers” and moving through time to our modern-day quest for new dimensions, it covers 250 milestones in mathematical history. Among the numerous delights readers will learn about as they dip into this inviting anthology: cicada-generated prime numbers, magic squares from centuries ago, the discovery of pi and calculus, and the butterfly effect. Each topic gets a lavishly illustrated spread with stunning color art, along with formulas and concepts, fascinating facts about scientists’ lives, and real-world applications of the theorems.

 

Continguts

Introduction
10
B C Go
42
B C Euclids Elements
56
B C Archimedes Spiral
66
Slide Rule
130
Fermats Spiral
132
Fermats Last Theorem
134
Descartes La Géométrie
136
Babbage Mechanical Computer
218
Cauchys Le Calcul Infinitésimal
220
Barycentric Calculus
222
NonEuclidean Geometry
224
Möbius Function
226
Group Theory
228
Pigeonhole Principle
230
Quaternions
232

Cardioid
138
Logarithmic Spiral
140
Projective Geometry
142
Torricellis Trumpet
144
Pascals Triangle
146
The Length of Neiles Semicubical Parabola
148
Vivianis Theorem
150
Discovery of Calculus
152
Newtons Method
154
Tautochrone Problem
156
Astroid
158
LHôpitals Analysis of the Infinitely Small
160
Rope around the Earth Puzzle
162
Law of Large Numbers
164
Eulers Number e
166
Stirlings Formula
168
Normal Distribution Curve
170
EulerMascheroni Constant
172
Königsberg Bridges
174
St Petersburg Paradox
176
Goldbach Conjecture
178
Agnesis Instituzioni Analitiche
180
Eulers Formula for Polyhedra
182
Eulers Polygon Division Problem
184
Knights Tours
186
Bayes Theorem
188
Franklin Magic Square
190
Minimal Surface
192
Buffons Needle
194
ThirtySix Officers Problem
196
Sangaku Geometry
198
Least Squares
200
Constructing a Regular Heptadecagon
202
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
204
Gausss Disquisitiones Arithmeticae
206
ThreeArmed Protractor
208
Fourier Series
210
Laplaces Théorie Analytique des Probabilités
212
Prince Ruperts Problem
214
Bessel Functions
216
Transcendental Numbers
234
Catalan Conjecture
236
The Matrices of Sylvester
238
FourColor Theorem
240
Boolean Algebra
242
Icosian Game
244
Harmonograph
246
The Möbius Strip
248
Holditchs Theorem
250
Riemann Hypothesis
252
Beltramis Pseudosphere
254
Weierstrass Function
256
Gross Théorie du Baguenodier
258
The Doctorate of Kovalevskaya
260
Reuleaux Triangle
266
Venn Diagrams
272
Tower of Hanoi
278
Peano Axioms
284
Sylvesters Line Problem
290
Morleys Trisector Theorem
296
Boys Surface
302
Poincaré Conjecture
308
Jordan Curve Theorem
314
Normal Number
320
Hairy Ball Theorem
326
Information Theory
394
Nash Equilibrium
400
Cellular Automata
406
Turning a Sphere Inside Out
412
Sierpiński Numbers
420
Continuum Hypothesis Undecidability
426
Mandelbrot Set
472
Jones Polynomial
478
The ABC Conjecture
484
Murphys Law and Knots
490
Eternity Puzzle
496
Solving of the Holyhedron
502
Notes and Further Reading
518
Index
526
Copyright

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Sobre l'autor (2009)

Clifford A. Pickover received his PhD from Yale in Biophysics and Biochemistry, and has written more than 40 books and over 200 articles. For many years he was the lead columnist for Discover magazine’s “Brain-Boggler,” and is known for his calendar and card sets, Mind-Bending Visual Puzzles. Currently, he writes the “Brain Strain” column for Odyssey, is associate editor for the scientific journal Computers and Graphics, and serves on the editorial board for Odyssey, Leonardo, and YLEM. His computer graphics have appeared on the covers of numerous magazines, and his research has received considerable attention from such media outlets as CNN, the Discovery Channel, The New York Times, and WIRED.

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