Product Description
"Boyer and Merzbach distill thousands of years of mathematics into this fascinating chronicle. From the Greeks to Godel, the mathematics is brilliant; the cast of characters is distinguished; the ebb and flow of ideas is everywhere evident. And, while tracing the development of European mathematics, the authors do not overlook the contributions of Chinese, Indian, and Arabic civilizations. Without doubt, this is—and will long remain—a classic one-volume history of mathematics and mathematicians who create it." —William Dunham Author, Journey Through Genius, The Great Theorems of Mathematics "When we read a book like A History of Mathematics, we get the picture of a mounting structure, ever taller and broader and more beautiful and magnificent—and with a foundation, moreover, that is as untainted and as functional now as it was when Thales worked out the first geometrical theorems nearly 26 centuries ago." —From the Foreword by Isaac Asimov "One of the most useful and comprehensive general introductions to the subject." —J. W. Dauben The City University of New York "Both readable and scholarly, this book can serve as a fine introduction to the topic and also a reference book." —J. David Bolter University of North Carolina Author of Turing’s Man Revised to make it more accessible to a general audience, A History of Mathematics paints a vivid picture of humankind’s relationship with numbers. Updated and expanded, it now offers broadened coverage of twentieth century advances in probability and computers, and updated references to further reading. A feature that will be of interest to every reader is an appendix containing an extensive chronological table of mathematical and general historical developments.Amazon.com Review
What do you mean there's no chapter 0? Whether or not youthink that's a deficit, A History of Mathematics more thanmakes up for it with its depth and engaging analysis of thedevelopment of the "flawless science." Historian Carl B. Boyerdesigned it as a practical textbook for communicating math's complextimelines to interested college students in 1968; Uta C. Merzbach hasgently revised it to bring it in line with current thought.Much ofthe early chapters are untouched, with new 19th- and 20th-centurychapters covering Boyer's omissions and new and revised referencesguiding the reader to additional resources.

From the origins ofnumbering to the future of computing, the authors strive forcomprehensive examination and clear, simple explanations.Some of themath will daunt those who have never taken college-level courses (orhave forgotten what they learned), but some of the more elaboratetechnical material can be skipped if needed.Especially helpful isthe extensive timeline-appendix that proceeds from the beginning oftime to the late 20th century.Whether you're using it to gain abetter understanding of mathematics or to broaden your awareness ofthe historical record, A History of Mathematics will help youmake sense of the wide world of numbers. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

boyer 2nd edition
I picked up this and Burton's similarly named book, and I just wanted to make a few comments and comparisons of the two.

First off, both are excellent reads, and although they cover the same subject they approach it in two different manners.Boyer's text takes the style of a history book to approach the topic.It often focuses on the people and on the time period, commenting on political/cultural going-on.Its an enjoyable book to read, almost in the sense of reading a novel.Usually the mathematics is brought up in the text, but most of the proofs and derivations are often glossed over.Possible many of those mathematical details were in the questions that are no longer at the end of the chapters.But I found missing those details to be somewhat frustrating.

Conversely Burton takes the approach of a mathematics textbook that follows the story line of history.Its filled with proofs and examples, but isn't quite as rich in historical content.Each chapter ends with numerous "homework" problems, often times relating to specific solutions to a problem found by different mathematicians.

Both are excellent books, but depending on your personal taste and interests you may prefer one approach over the other.If you are looking to sit down and work through historical mathematical problems, Burton is probably right for you.If you want to cozy up and imagine what life and thought was like throughout different times in civilization, Boyer is probably your answer.

Hope this is helpful.

it never arrived
I would like to review this product but it has been a month since I ordered it and it has not arrived yet.I needed it for a class I am taking so it was a real problem not having it.

Intriguing Book
Practically any page you open this book to presents fascinating insight into some step in the development of mathematics.

A history of PURE Mathematics
An interesting exposition of the history of mathematics up to the mid-20th century, but the author's attitude is somewhat irritating.I would describe him somewhat of a "purist fundamentalist".His denigration of the contributions of applied mathematicians shows throughout the book.His best praise for someone is "so and so did not only contribute to applied mathematics", as if pure mathematics is the superior art.

Nevertheless, the book is an interesting read and the exercises are full of interesting mathematical puzzles.A word of caution is that the reader needs some college-level mathematics to understand much of the book, despite its being written in simpler language.Some of the latter chapters also get confusing since he talks about 5 mathematicians at any one time, jumping from the contributions of one to another in mid-sentence, then going back to someone else described earlier.It would have been more helpful if his sections were better-defined and had titles.Could also use an update to the 21st century.

Usefulness
Excellent organization and coverage.Type size limits effectiveness for practical reference on a routine basis. Subject matter being oriented toward those accustomed to frequent reference should serve as guide. ... Read more

Product Description

This book offers a collection of historical essays detailing a large variety of mathematical disciplines and issues; it’s accessible to a broad audience. This second edition includes new chapters on Chinese and Indian number theory, on hypercomplex numbers, and on algebraic number theory. Many more exercises have been added as well as commentary that helps place the exercises in context.

Customer Reviews (4)

An intellectually satisfying history of mathematics
This is a brilliant book that conveys a beautiful, unified picture of mathematics. It is not an encyclopedic history, it is history for the sake of understanding mathematics. There is an idea behind every topic, every section makes a mathematical point, showing how the mathematical theories of today has grown inevitably from the natural problems studied by the masters of the past.

Math history textbooks of today are often enslaved by the modern curriculum, which means that they spend lots of time on the question of rigor in analysis and they feel obliged to deal with boring technicalities of the history of matrix theory and so on. This is of course the wrong way to study history. Instead, one of the great virtues of a history such as Stillwell's is that it studies mathematics the way mathematics wants to be studied, which gives a very healthy perspective on the modern customs. Again and again topics which are treated unnaturally in the usual courses are seen here in their proper setting.This makes this book a very valuable companion over the years.

Another flaw of many standard history textbooks is that they spend too much time on trivial things like elementary arithmetic, because they think it is good for aspiring teachers and, I think, because it is fashionable to deal with non-western civilisations. It gives an unsound picture of mathematics if Gauss receives as much attention as abacuses, and it makes these books useless for understanding any of the really interesting mathematics, say after 1800. Here Stillwell saves us again. The chapter on calculus is done by page 170, which is about a third of the book. A comparable point in the more mainstream book of Katz, for instance, is page 596 of my edition, which is more than two thirds into that book.

Petty details aside, the main point is the following: This is the single best book I have ever seen for truly understanding mathematics as a whole.

Relationship between algebra and geometry
It is a very good book.It has presented very clearly some difficult-to-understand relationship especially the link between algebra and geometry.It is a very good balance - history, Mathmatics, biography all mixed very well together.Highly recommended.

concise and well written summary of mathematics
Stillwell covers a lot of ground in a short undergraduate text intended to unify various mathematical disciplines.Naturally, _Mathematics_and_its_History_ begins with the early Greeks and in particular geometry (which is how mathematics was typically expressed then).The development of algebra and polynomial forms is described followed by perspective geometry.The invention of calculus and the closely related discovery of infinite series provide the backdrop for short biographies of prominent mathematicians (mostly dead white males to multicultural deconstructionists).The development of elliptic integrals (used in solving functions with specified boundary conditions such as a Neumann problem found in fluid mechanics).The treatment then diverges to physical problems including the vibrating string and hydrodynamics, together with a note on the renown Bernoulli family.Then Stillwell returns to the esoteric in complex numbers, topology, group theory and logic with some comments on computation at the end.Some mathematicians may find the overview to lack comprehensiveness, but the book's brevity for each topic and biographical notes present a balanced approach to the more casual reader about this important field of study and how it developed.

see below
This is an overall good text. It offers a very in depth history of many many mathematical ideas.It gets quite technical at times, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on what you are looking for. ... Read more

Product Description
A gently guided, profusely illustrated Grand Tour of the world of mathematics.This extraordinary work takes the reader on a long and fascinating journey--from the dual invention of numbers and language, through the major realms of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, to the final destination of differential equations, with excursions into mathematical logic, set theory, topology, fractals, probability, and assorted other mathematical byways. The book is unique among popular books on mathematics in combining an engaging, easy-to-read history of the subject with a comprehensive mathematical survey text. Intended, in the author's words, "for the benefit of those who never studied the subject, those who think they have forgotten what they once learned, or those with a sincere desire for more knowledge," it links mathematics to the humanities, linguistics, the natural sciences, and technology.

Contains more than 1000 original technical illustrations, a multitude of reproductions from mathematical classics and other relevant works, and a generous sprinkling of humorous asides, ranging from limericks and tall stories to cartoons and decorative drawings. Over 1000 technical illustrations and cartoons and drawingsAmazon.com Review
What does mathematics mean? Is it numbers orarithmetic, proofs or equations? Jan Gullberg starts his massivehistorical overview with some insight into why human beings find itnecessary to "reckon," or count, and what math means to us. From thereto the last chapter, on differential equations, is a very long, butsurprisingly engrossing journey. Mathematics covers howsymbolic logic fits into cultures around the world, and givesfascinating biographical tidbits on mathematicians from Archimedes toWiles. It's a big book, copiously illustrated with goofy littleline drawings and cartoon reprints. But the real appeal (at least formath buffs) lies in the scads of problems--withsolutions--illustrating the concepts. It really invites readers to sitdown with a cup of tea, pencil and paper, and (ahem) a calculator andstart solving. Remember the first time you "got it" in math class?With Mathematics you can recapture that bliss, and maybe learnsomething new, too. Everyone from schoolkids to professors (and maybeeven die-hard mathphobes) can find something useful, informative, orentertaining here.--Therese Littleton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (72)

Wonnderful book!
I'm from Belgium. I was on holiday, walking in Harvard campus when my attention was kept by this wonderful book...2 minutes were enough to convince myself to buy it and it was definitly a good choice!

I'm an engineer and even if the content is more like "basic" maths for everyone intersted on the topic, I must admit it is a very useful and broad reference, introducing deeply all important in everyday's life math topics!

Nevertheless, I found one little typo and would like some readers to confirm this fact : in the § on the fundamental theorem of calculus, one assumption is that the area below the graph from a to x is called A(x), but on the graph, it is called Delta A(x). Can anyone confirm that it is a small mistake or that it has been corrected? Such a book deserves to be totally free of typos, especially for such an important part of the book: the fundamental theorem. Actually, it is a bit a pitty that such a theorem is not fully demonstrated, but that onlydA(x)/x = f(x) is proved.

A love letter to mathematics
Gullberg's formal training was in medicine; he compiled this scrapbook / love letter as an amateur mathematician with the conviction that mathematics should be enjoyed, like art or music. And what a scrapbook! Weighing in at over a thousand pages, there is nary a subject not touched upon. But this is not a textbook, not a handbook, not a serious book (and we mean that in a good way). Flip to any page and find wonders tucked in among familiar formulas and diagrams: a comparison of counting numbers in the world's major languages, instructions for using an abacus, a menagerie of magic squares, a survey of methods used to compute pi, a summary of figurate numbers. In addition, each chapter begins with a whirlwind history of the topic at hand, introducing names you probably recognize (and some you do not) and putting their contributions into a larger historical perspective. Want to trace the development of calculus pre-Newton or the use of matrices all the way back to ancient China? You'll find it here. An amazing collection of knowledge worth twice the price.

Liz Salander's book from The Girl Who Played with Fire
For all those who are thrilled with the Stieg Larsson series, after some research, it appears the consensus is that this is the book (a "brick of 1000 pages") that Lisbeth read in the Carribean beach bar.Title was changed for the book to "Dimensions in Mathematics",a much more engaging title, but the author is a Swede like Larsson and the publication date is contemporary and the description of subject matter fits exactly. Having loved the Larsson series and as a mathematics fan, I set out to find the book and it has been the most rewarding experience.I never understood until now the significance of mathematics in all of cultural, intellectual and, yes, philosophical development from 1200 BC and on.It is most rewarding if one is familiar with the mathematical concepts, but that is by no means necessary as the writing does not demand that you be able to solve the problems of the ages to appreciate the dedication, intelligencs and ingenuity of those who did.Illsutrations and cartoons abound.I have found a few typos or logical errors, but not enough to matter.This is totally readable and is truly not a book on mathematics only but on the development of civislation as we know it.

A HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS TO 1997
A SUPERB SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT TO 1997 - A CLASSIC THAT WILL NEVER GO OUT OF DATE IN THAT REGARD.

A MUST FOR THE LIBRARY OF A MATHEMATICAL STUDENT (WHETHER YOUNG OR OLD).

cool book
I haven't had much time yet to explore this book, but I browsed it enough to know that I will enjoy reading it and that it is well worth the price. ... Read more

Product Description

Key Message: A History of Mathematics, Third Edition, provides a solid background in the history of mathematics, helping readers gain a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts in their historical context. This book’s global perspective covers how contributions from Chinese, Indian, and Islamic mathematicians shaped our modern understanding of mathematics. This book also includes discussions of important historical textbooks and primary sources to help readers further understand the development of modern mathematics.

Key Topics: Ancient Mathematics: Egypt and Mesopotamia, The Beginnings of Mathematics in Greece, Euclid, Archimedes and Apollonius, Mathematical Methods in Hellenistic Times, The Final Chapter of Greek Mathematics; Medieval Mathematics: Ancient and Medieval China, Ancient and Medieval India, The Mathematics of Islam, Medieval Europe, Mathematics Elsewhere; Early Modern Mathematics: Algebra in the Renaissance, Mathematical Methods in the Renaissance, Geometry, Algebra and Probability in the Seventeenth Century, The Beginnings of Calculus, Newton and Leibniz; Modern Mathematics: Analysis in the Eighteenth Century, Probability and Statistics in the Eighteenth Century, Algebra and Number Theory in the Eighteenth Century, Geometry in the Eighteenth Century, Algebra and Number Theory in the Nineteenth Century, Analysis in the Nineteenth Century, Probability and Statistics in the Nineteenth Century, Geometry in the Nineteenth Century, Aspects of the Twentieth Century

Market: For all readers interested in the history of mathematics.

Customer Reviews (1)

A History of Mathematics
The book was in good condition just like the description said. I was satisfied with my purchase. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

A Concise History of Mathematics

This is little more than a sketch of the history of mathematics. In broad strokes, it outlines the relationships among mathematicians and some of their texts, but says almost nothing of substance about the content of their work. Each chapter has a short bibliography, but since the last edition was in 1987 (1st ed. 1948), they are of limited value.

Mathematics Hystorical Development

When I was student ( from elementary school to university level ), I was never taught of history of mathematics ( at least in an organized and formalized way,sometimes there were references to singular and surprising anecdote as Gauss child summing up the first 100 natural numbers in few seconds). I think this is a lack ( probably it is not possible to teach everything in the already rich school program ) of the educational system. For this reason , enjoying mathematics ( especially the simplest one ), I was looking for something to explain and describe how the mathematical thinking developped with time. At the same time, I did not have much time, so I thought from the title that this book was the right one for my needs. Although all the history of mathematics from its dawn to about 1950and written in a short book is something very difficult to realize ( if not impossible ), I very reccomend this beautiful book, where the history of mathematics is well explained in terms of main thinking lines. Furthermore this book is rich of interesting anecdotes and details on personal and accademic relations among the greatest mathematicians of all time.

A Brief Outline of the History of Mathematics
In "A Concise History of Mathematics," Dirk J. Struik succinctly surveys the progression of mathematics: its discoveries, breakthroughs, and distinct personalities. If you enjoy the history of mathematics or if you dislike math (it will help infuse a sense of delight in math) you will find this book very useful. This little volume doesn't cover the subject or any prominent feature of mathematics in exhaustive detail, but it is a precise book with research touching on the foremost pioneers, originators, and timelines caught up in the development of mathematics from their earliest genesis until the start of the last century.

Chapters include:

- The beginnings
- The ancient orient
- Greece
- The beginnings of Western Europe
- 17th century
- 18th century
- 19th century
- First half of 20th century
- And more.

Simple to read and it will help elicit more affection for mathematics as it enlightens the reader in a historical outline regarding this essential subject.

Within this outstanding book is:

- A fine bibliography
- Numerous references (English and various languages).
- A few nice illustrations and pictures
- Many of the most significant details of the history of the mathematics.

Frege, Russell and other important figures are only mentioned in passing. Thus I prefer James Nickel's exhaustive and compelling volume on mathematics. I delight in mathematical truths because they reflect theism as the epistemic foundation. Without the infinite ontic ground of theism and without affirming a wellspring who is the foundation for infinite numbers, the non-theist cannot solve the paradox of infinite immaterial numbers within a finite material world. This is not a problem for the person who ascribes a theistic epistemic source whereas he believes in an infinite, immaterial, and eternal being as the infinite source of mathematics. Non-theists use infinite numbers, yet these numbers have no end, hence they do not comport with their worldview. One must presuppose theism to account for infinite numbers.

"A Concise History of Mathematics" is a marvelous fact-filled book, written in a lucid and crisp style.
The Necessary Existence of God: The Proof of Christianity Through Presuppositional Apologetics

Good infromation - Bad english
I bought the book for a class on history of math, and it covered that topic well.The issue I had was the usage of words only a PHD in English would use. The book lead me to the Internet to find more information about the period that was easier to understand.

Brief History of Mathematics,perhaps too concise.
I rather enjoyed reading this Dover classic on mathematics.Yet,there were some problems with the book.It's a vast topic,that's condensed into a rather small book.The author,Dirk J. Struik,did a wonderful job explaining the great giants of global historical mathematics.Now,if you're looking for the math geniuses of the twentith century,however,you'll miss them here.There is an excellent bibliograghy and many important basic formulas presented.The sketch portraits and rare photograghs add an insightful picture of the character of these esteemed numerologists.After reading this text,I found myself wanting to research more about their contributions to mathematics.Eventhough,i may be more advanced at understanding higher math concepts.This book presents a clear philosophical foundation,often skipped by math instructors today,because of time considerations. So, this book is the ideal text for any fellow math neophyte,who may cringe at the broad scope of classical mathematics. ... Read more

Product Description
Provides a world view of mathematics, balancing ancient, early modern and modern history. Problems are taken from their original sources, enabling students to understand how mathematicians in various times and places solved mathematical problems. In this new edition a more global perspective is taken, integrating more non-Western coverage including contributions from Chinese/Indian, and Islamic mathematics and mathematicians. An additional chapter covers mathematical techniques from other cultures.*Up to date, uses the results of very recent scholarship in the history ofmathematics.*Provides summaries of the arguments of all important ideas in thefield. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

(+_+)
Place my order on August 21, 2010 and receive @ Sept 2. the condition of my book fits the description you described.

I liked the history but not the math....
Ok, the title probably sounds pretty dumb so let me explain.Trying to read the first 6 or so chapters was a nightmare.Maybe I haven't taken the right classes yet?I don't know but I could hardly get through any of the actual math.This book made me scared of Euclid!All I can see when I think about this book are random circles and angles and how it's all supposed to mean something.I also remember trying to learn about the Chinese Remainder Theorem from this book.Result: I still don't even have a clue what it's about.

A History of Mathematics
It's a good comprehensive study of math's roots. My wife used it for her master's program.

reprehensibly bad
I'll try not say anything too disruptive. (Nevertheless, an official range of love it to hate it seems to say it's more than okay to just let the emotions rip.)This is just the sort of technical history that William Berkson would call out as "a pack of lies."For a much more historically accurate and far less shallow take on this topic, i highly recommend A History of Mathematics: From Mesopotamia to Modernity (Also why in the world would Mathematical Review ever publish a review of Hodgkin's book by Katz?!?!When I read Katz's review of Hodgkin, I felt immediatly uncomfortable since there is the very real possibility of Katz having the motivation to do all in his power to rid the marketplace of any competitor.)

clear and informative
While this subject may be very boring, this book is clear and concise and walks the reader through the development of modern mathematics.It isn't exactly chronological and instead chooses to follow a subject based time line.A solid purchase for those students who have utterly confusing professors. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

A lot more interesting than I imagined!
It takes talent to write such an interesting book about the history (sometimes considered a boring subject) of mathematics (to some, extremely boring) and the lives of great mathematicians....Bravo!
As an engineer/developer with a reasonable math background I really enjoyed reading about guys such as Laplace, Lagrange, Euler, Newton...I also found loads of useful facts for a maths website I am working on ...

More than a History of Mathematics
This is the one of the best references in Mathematics History that I have found. Generaly, when we look for this kind of book we always found or a purely concept evolution text or a formal tratise. In this book I foundthese thinks together and, in addition, something that I never have seenbefore: archeological references! Lots of egyptian, roman, greek, phenicianand other civilization vessels, papirus, tables, reproduced, described andexplained. And not only classical mathematics! I found, for an exemple,references of pre-colombian mathematics on Central and South Americas. Forme, it becomes the top reference in History of Mathematics. ... Read more

Product Description
In this fascinating discussion of ancient mathematics, author Peter Rudman does not just chronicle the archeological record of what mathematics was done; he digs deeper into the more important question of why it was done in a particular way. Why did the Egyptians use a bizarre method of expressing fractions? Why did the Babylonians use an awkward number system based on multiples of 60? Rudman answers such intriguing questions, arguing that some mathematical thinking is universal and timeless. The similarity of the Babylonian and Mayan number systems, two cultures widely separated in time and space, illustrates the argument. He then traces the evolution of number systems from finger counting in hunter-gatherer cultures to pebble counting in herder-farmer cultures of the Nile and Tigris-Euphrates valleys, which defined the number systems that continued to be used even after the invention of writing. With separate chapters devoted to the remarkable Egyptian and Babylonian mathematics of the era from about 3500 to 2000 BCE, when all of the basic arithmetic operations and even quadratic algebra became doable, Rudman concludes his interpretation of the archeological record. Since some of the mathematics formerly credited to the Greeks is now known to be a prior Babylonian invention, Rudman adds a chapter that discusses the math used by Pythagoras, Eratosthenes, and Hippasus, which has Babylonian roots, illustrating the watershed difference in abstraction and rigor that the Greeks introduced. He also suggests that we might improve present-day teaching by taking note of how the Greeks taught math. Complete with sidebars offering recreational math brainteasers, this engrossing discussion of the evolution of mathematics will appeal to both scholars and lay readers with an interest in mathematics and its history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Too Ambitious of a Mathematical History:Sexy Title & Arid Content!
It is not my nature to write critical reviews that badger or despoil a scholar's reputation, especially, a competent professor of physics at a reputable Jewish university in Israel.

However, Professor Peter S. Rudman has neither the scholarly competence nor the historical insight into how gradually and slowly mathematical knowledge was accummulated in the religious Temple instruction schools of ancient Egypt and Babylon.

A book of this sort demands narrative skills which this professor does not possess (nor should he as a professor of mathematico-physics).

The book is blatantly written with its misleading title to produce income for the professor.

This is a shame!There are too many badly written books on the 'history of mathematics'; Professor Rudman did not have to add another one.

The sub-title 50,000 years is correct.It took mankind 2,000 years to learn how to write and read (53 centuries ago, or 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE); our writing system originated as an accounting system to measure barley, wine or beer, metal, etc.

He will have to become more proficient in the sexagesimal system of Babylon and the decimal system of Egypt to capture the first two thousand years of mathematical development as revealed by Babylonian cuneiform tablets.

Surveying the Nile river inundation and using naked-eye astronomy & canal maintenance projects are the twin sources of mathematical science---both highly pedestrian and practical!

It was the Pythagoreans who engendered a religious quasi-mystical cult appertaining to mathematical objects that aroused tremendous respect for 'mathematicoi' [Greek, "Those who are the learned ones"] in the ancient and medieval world.How else do you explain a Porphyry, Iamblichus or Proclus?

I hope Professor will re-write this treatise making use of the considerable mathematical scholarship of the last 20 years on the History of Mathematics.This book does not cut the mustard.It serves no useful audience!Also, he needs to work on his prose style.It is inexcusable in this age and time to write arid mathematical historical treatises.He has not worked hard enough to present an insightful treatise.


Respectfully,


John E.D.P. Malin
Cecilia, Louisiana 70521-0460

[See my other reviews and profile for more insight on me]

Too many importat informatio missing
The author's title is mathematics of 50000 years but he limits his discussion to only the 2000 years. He does not mention that the Alexandrian library was a University where former Directors were Euclid and Theous the father of Hypatia one of most talanted mathematicians.He never mentioned Euclid's golden section that expresses the harmony of the universe. The Babylonians new how to construct Pythagorean triples but Pythagoras prooved the ethorem. He jumps from one subject to another in an incoherant maner. Thatis the symbol BCE is BC unless the R means era. He also for the glory he mention Fermat's theorem and how dificult was to solved. I have now solved this problem in quite different way of Wiles. The problem is indeed trivial.I intend either to publih it or write a small book to tell how Fermat obtained his solution.

How Mathematics Happened is an engaging read for students, scholars, and laypeople alike.
Written by Peter S. Rudman (Professor Physics, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology), How Mathematics Happened is explores the history and prehistory of human mathematical discovery. From the different ways Egyptians and Babylonians expressed fractions so that they would almost never be nonterminating fractions, to the evolution of pattern recognition to finger counting to pebble counting, to the underappreciated Mayan mathematics system, to concepts of abstraction and rigor invented by Greek mathematicians such as Pythagoras, Eratosthenes, and Hippasus. An amazing tour of human discovery, illustrated with black-and-white diagrams and punctuated with "fun questions" (with answers) for the reader to solve as well as references and an index, How Mathematics Happened is an engaging read for students, scholars, and laypeople alike. ... Read more

Product Description
This classic best-seller by a well-known author introduces mathematics history to math and math education majors. Suggested essay topics and problem studies challenge students. CULTURAL CONNECTIONS sections explain the time and culture in which mathematics developed and evolved. Portraits of mathematicians and material on women in mathematics are of special interest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Would recommend
Seller was prompt with shipping and the item came in the stated condition. I would definitely recommend this seller.

Very interesting read - Very hard problems
This was the textbook for a History of Math class I took at U of Iowa.The readings in each chapter are very interesting.As the other reviewers said, if you are interested in math, you will enjoy reading the text.

The problem is that the attached essays and problems for each chapter are not possible to be solved/completed just given the information in the chapter.The readings are generally qualitative descriptions of the historical development and then the problems ask you to (for example) find the tangent to the curve the way it would have been done by this ancient mathematician and then by this other ancient mathematician, etc.I spent hours every week searching online for enough information to complete the homework.

Good luck!

Great!
I agree with the person who said this book is very informative & it is also easy to read. I learned lots from doing the problems too, like for example, a simple algorithm on how to construct magic squares of odd size. This book was good for the course I did because there's only so much you can do in a course; Morris Kline's "Mathematical Thought From Ancient to Modern Times" is twice as long as this one so it goes into much more detail, but too much for a 1-term course. This book by Eves is a good INTRO to the history of math, I liked it.

Excellent
The careful documentation of the discoveries and history of mathematics is of overwhelming importance, especially in modern times where the advances are taking place so rapidly that the historical roots of some branches of mathematics seem to be getting lost. It would be a tragedy if the history of these important developments were not put into print so that later generations of mathematicians and students could have an understanding of how these came about. Thanks to the information age, the accessibility of mathematical documents has dramatically increased, but these documents usually do not include overviews of how the ideas took root and then flourished as independent research disciplines.

This book gives a general overview of mathematical developments up until the middle of the twentieth century. It is a fascinating story, and readers will realize to what extent mathematical ideas deemed complex by even modern standards were known by the ancients. Indeed, it is very surprising to learn that in 2000 BC the Babylonians were solving quadratic equations and even some cubic and quartic equations.The Babylonians did not produce an Evariste Galois, that took centuries more time, but they were dealing with mathematical constructions that were interesting to compare with modern methods.

One veryinteresting feature of this book is that it is meant to be used as a textbook, and not just in a course in the history of mathematics. The author has included "problem studies" and "essay topics" at the end of each chapter that challenge the reader to solve problems pertinent to the historical topics of each chapter. The inclusion of these problems will allow the student to gain insight on the difficulty in solving problems with the constraint of using concepts that were unique to a definite period in mathematical history.

The book also includes discussions of the history of non-Western contributions to mathematics. The work of the Hindus, the Chinese, and Arabs is included. The contributions of the Arabs are particularly important for later developments in the West, as it was they who revived Greek philosophy and mathematics and consequently changed dramatically the role of mathematics in Europe.

The reading of this book will give a greater appreciation of the developments in mathematics as they are done today. Mathematical research now is done by both human and machine, and no doubt this century, and others beyond it, will result in brilliant developments. Mathematics pervades every human activity in the modern world and every piece of technology. When books like this one are written in the future, readers who peruse them and take note of the incredible advancements made in mathematics in the centuries that preceed them, no doubt their predominant emotion will be astonishment.

When used as a self-study text ...
When used as a self-study text, I found the book to be lacking a sufficient quantity of example problems solved in adequate detail to be truly helpful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

an excellent, modern sourcebook in history of maths.
I have been teaching history of mathematics for some years and this is in my view a highly valuable, interesting sourcebook in this field. It is also modern when compared to other sourcebooks. IN particular the authors often provides the reader with different, sometimes contradicting interpretations of the sources, which is both exciting and instructive. Some of these texts also give the reader a sense of the (sometimes) very low reliability of the extant sources, an aspect often ignored in other books on the same subject. A warning: the authors give a minimal amount of explanations in short headings for each chapter; therefore readers -especially beginners- should not expect to find in it a historical narrative. At best it can serve to illustrate such a narrative. Or, in other words, it shoud be read with one of the classical histories of mathematics. ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1921 edition by the Clarendon Press, Oxford. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

more than just history
It should be noted that this is one of a two volume set. This author also compiled and commented upon The Elements ofEuclid in three volumes [also available here].

Theseworkswere first brought to my attention by my Greeklanguage professor nearly 40 years ago as the best English language source on Greek Mathematics.

Just as the Greeks did not view `pure' mathematics or geometry as a lifes-work so to younger readers [through collage] the methods of logic may prove most useful.

For we retired `geezers' not quite ready for Oprah reruns and made for T.V. `romances' it may be the stimulation ofthe brain by the problems [which are documented and solved infull], the history andthe `awe' of how much these did `without computers';

Academically great
This is not a terribly exciting book to read, but it is a superior reference for looking up Greek mathematicians.It is apparent that the author is partial to Euclid, as his section is close to a third of the book, (see the author's version of the Elements)but being a Euclid fan myself I can forgive this easily.Even the most obscure mathematicians are covered in good detail along with what they proved, as well as how they proved it.For those interested in historical mathematics, this book is invaluable. Note:This is a two volume set.I thought it was only one and I only purchased the second.Be sure to get both. ... Read more

Product Description

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.

Customer Reviews (27)

Lively and entertaining math, the perfect book for the coffee table in the math lounge
This book is the perfect one to reside on the coffee table of math department lounges, as it is possible to open it to any page and use the contents to begin a mathematical conversation. All the subject matter is presented at a level that all professional mathematicians will understand and people with a high school education that included mathematics can easily understand the majority of the topics. For each of the subjects, one page is devoted to a brief explanation and the next contains a color picture related to the subject. The images are so colorful and bright that they would even catch and retain the eyes of young children.
Another use of this book would be in high school or college math classes where the subject is the history of mathematics. The descriptions of each of the milestones could serve as the starting point for a paper or a presentation. Finally, it is a book that is just fun to read, the math is not deep, but it is lively and entertaining.

Published in Journal of Mathematics, reprinted with permission

Fascinating Snippets of Math Concepts that Arouse the Curiosity
As an educator, I would highly recommend this wonderful treasure trove of basic information about and insights into the math concepts of God's universe. And, His instruments (the people) who He has inspired to reveal the fascinating secrets about how our (His) world has been assembled and operates.This book fills me with a sense of wonderment and awe.This book is not a theological work, but it is truely a great compilation of and revelation to God's creative wisdom.

A good resource for short answers to those pesky math questions to parents like "What is pi?", "Who figured that out?", "How did they figure that out?"

The world is full of subtle, missed yet important associations with mathmatically explained and/or predictable outcomes.I"m not going to cite examples.Get or borrow a copy of this book and find out for yourself how much you can: learn in just a few minutes; entertain yourself for hours; discover about the world around you.

I've learned a lot from this book, much of which I still can't understand.SO, HOW DID THEY FIGURE THAT OUT?!?!!!

Would Lisbeth Salander Use "The Math Book"?
Lisbeth Salander, the fictional gifted mathematical genius of the late
Stieg Larsson's phenomenal best sellers, "The Girl Who Played with
Fire", "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo", and "The Girl Who Kicked
the Hornet's Nest", would have read Clifford A. Pickover's "Math Book" to
understand "Fermat's Last Theorem". Salander is constantly solving
math problems, during her intriguing adventures and that's what lead
me to Pickover's superb book. The great mathematical problems of the
past are explained with clear language, an almost impossible
task in textbooks, and images. This book is a collector's item, to
be used for information, and made part of your library. It will
make you smarter, and will be cherished by all book lovers.

Amazing!
I am not a math person, but I have a son who is. So, when I saw "The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension, 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics" mentioned in a homeschooling magazine, I knew it was one I needed to request from my local library. It is truly a fascinating book, and this is from someone who understands relatively little of it. The full page illustrations are beautiful and the text is interesting. Pickover has truly tried to make complex ideas understandable to the lay person. Organized chronologically, it is amazing to read how one discovery has led to another throughout the years. From a Christian perspective, I feel that it is yet more evidence for a God-created world because the mathematical laws that underscore it are so complex that they could never be random. An incredible intelligence created our world. For example, the first entry is on ants. Apparently, Saharan desert ants have built-in pedometers that allow them to count their steps in order to measure exact distances and find their way back home. That is amazing, and that is only the first page of this book. If you love math, you will love this book. If you don't understand complex math, you will still find it fascinating. I don't think anyone can come away from looking at this book without a deeper appreciation for the number systems that regulate our world.

Many Interesting New Topics Even If You Have an Extensive Background in Math
I've read a lot of books on recreational math and number theory but still found much of interest in this one.An enjoyable format with each subject getting a one page description or explanation and having a facing page with a beautiful illustration.It's the kind of book to keep handy when you have a spare five minutes to fill.You can read it cover to cover or open it to a random page and be thoroughly entertained.An excellent blend of both the new and the familiar.It has wide-ranging subjects that cut across an amazing swath of math's beauty and mystery.It will appeal to both a math PhD or a fifth-grader with a passing interest. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Macmillan in 1901 in 578 pages; Subjects: Mathematics; Mathematics / General; Mathematics / History & Philosophy; Science / Physics; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Classic history
This is a classic history of mathematics and is surprisingly readable considering it was first published in 1912. It covers math from ancient times up to the late 19th century.It was interesting to read about how math developed down through the centuries, and who the famous mathematicians were and their contributions. I was most in interested in developments since the Renaissance, but I also enjoyed the author's coverage of the Middle Ages and Arabic contributions to algebra. For example, you'll learn about Al-Khwarizmi, Abu-Kamil, and Al Karaji. In the Middle Ages there was Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa (who gave his name to the famous fibonacci series), who lived in the 13th century (not to be confused with da Vinci who lived later), and was so renowned for his abilities that a competition was once staged by the Holy Roman Emperor to demonstrate his prowess. In fact, these sorts of math contests were quite common in the Middle Ages, which I didn't know about. Three questions were posed, such as give a number that when increased or decreased by 5 remains a square, and Leonardo was the only contestant to get all three right. Leonardo also was one of the first to introduce the Hindu/Arabic number system into Europe. He wrote a number of books, of which several survive today, which made him a celebrity as much for his writing talents as for his mathematical abilities during his lifetime, and the true extent of his contributions wasn't recognized until recent times. He is considered the most important mathematical theorist after Diophantus of Alexandria until Fermat in the 17th century--a span of 2000 years. But he is only one of hundreds of important mathematicians whose contributions are discussed. This book is still a very readable classic history that is still a valuable resource on the subject almost 100 years later.

a solid overview of centuries of math
This book is a readable account of the history of math from ancient times down to the 20th century.I particulary liked the history of Greek math and then Indian and Arab math -- those chapters were especially well done.It's amazing that not much happened mathematically speaking until practically the renaissance -- the burning of the library of Alexandria really held up most signficant developments.The other terrific chapters were on Newton and Leibnitz, plus all the French and Italian mathematicians like LaPlace and Legrange.I sometimes wished for a bit more biographical anecdotes, but the author covers hundreds of mathematicians.My only small gripe is that he quotes extensive sections in Latin and French with no translation as if we all have a perfect reading knowledge of these languages, even the 16th century versions complete with archaic terms.Still, this book is a good reference and overview of major math developments.I had some trouble following all the math, but I'm not a mathematician either. ... Read more

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In this unique monograph based on years of extensive work, Chatterjee presents the historical evolution of statistical thought from the perspective of various approaches to statistical induction. Developments in statistical concepts and theories are discussed alongside philosophical ideas on the ways we learn from experience. ... Read more

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The updated new edition of the classic and comprehensive guide to the history of mathematics

For more than forty years, A History of Mathematics has been the reference of choice for those looking to learn about the fascinating history of humankind’s relationship with numbers, shapes, and patterns. This revised edition features up-to-date coverage of topics such as Fermat’s Last Theorem and the Poincaré Conjecture, in addition to recent advances in areas such as finite group theory and computer-aided proofs.

• Distills thousands of years of mathematics into a single, approachable volume
• Covers mathematical discoveries, concepts, and thinkers, from Ancient Egypt to the present
• Includes up-to-date references and an extensive chronological table of mathematical and general historical developments.

Whether you're interested in the age of Plato and Aristotle or Poincaré and Hilbert, whether you want to know more about the Pythagorean theorem or the golden mean, A History of Mathematics is an essential reference that will help you explore the incredible history of mathematics and the men and women who created it. ... Read more

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This book offers a detailed history of parametric statistical inference. Covering the period between James Bernoulli and R.A. Fisher, it examines: binomial statistical inference; statistical inference by inverse probability; the central limit theorem and linear minimum variance estimation by Laplace and Gauss; error theory, skew distributions, correlation, sampling distributions; and the Fisherian Revolution. Lively biographical sketches of many of the main characters are featured throughout, including Laplace, Gauss, Edgeworth, Fisher, and Karl Pearson. Also examined are the roles played by DeMoivre, James Bernoulli, and Lagrange.

Product Description
Praise for William Dunhams Journey Through Genius The Great Theorems of Mathematics "Dunham deftly guides the reader through the verbal and logical intricacies of major mathematical questions and proofs, conveying a splendid sense of how the greatest mathematicians from ancient to modern times presented their arguments." —Ivars Peterson Author, The Mathematical Tourist Mathematics and Physics Editor, Science News

"It is mathematics presented as a series of works of art; a fascinating lingering over individual examples of ingenuity and insight. It is mathematics by lightning flash." —Isaac Asimov

"It is a captivating collection of essays of major mathematical achievements brought to life by the personal and historical anecdotes which the author has skillfully woven into the text. This is a book which should find its place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in science and the scientists who create it." —R. L. Graham, AT&T Bell Laboratories

"Come on a time-machine tour through 2,300 years in which Dunham drops in on some of the greatest mathematicians in history. Almost as if we chat over tea and crumpets, we get to know them and their ideas—ideas that ring with eternity and that offer glimpses into the often veiled beauty of mathematics and logic. And all the while we marvel, hoping that the tour will not stop." —Jearl Walker, Physics Department, Cleveland State University Author of The Flying Circus of PhysicsAmazon.com Review
In Journey through Genius, author William Dunhamstrikes an extraordinary balance between the historical andtechnical. He devotes each chapter to a principal result ofmathematics, such as the solution of the cubic series and thedivergence of the harmonic series. Not only does this book tell thestories of the people behind the math, but it also includes discussions andrigorous proofs of the relevant mathematical results. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (82)

Sparked a life-long interest.
I read this book freshman year of college and since then I've been in love with the subject of mathematics. It opened up a new world for me and I will be forever grateful to William Dunham for sparking this interest and curiosity of mathematics.

It's a great book and easy to understand.

A pleasure to read
This is the first review that I've ever written, but after reading this book, I could only think that this should be a must read for all high school students (especially those who think math boring).This book would add much needed humanity and intrigue into what many might consider dry math classes.Furthermore, it is simply a joy to read.

As for me, it makes me envy the innate genius given to such a precious few...

A joy (and helpful, too)

I'll keep this review brief so readers may go on to the wonderful reviews already posted.

Dunham's book is a joy to read, and provides much background that helps me as a teacher. It has several literary gems, such as the author's observation that Heron's formula for calculating the area of a triangle from the lengths of its three sides is "a very peculiar result which at first glance looks like nothing so much as a misprint. [It] has no intuitive appeal whatever." (p. 119)

Unfortunately, Journey through Genius ends on a bit of a sour note, which I hope will be remedied in a later printing. Having told us that Cantor's continuum hypothesis can neither be established nor disproved within set theory, Dunham concludes that its adoption or rejection is a matter of the individual mathematician's tastes. In other words, we can have different "versions" of set theory. Mathematicians on the whole do not seem to agree: since much of modern mathematics is founded upon set theory, they seem to believe we can't afford to have different versions of it. (See users DOT forthnet DOT gr SLASH ath SLASH kimon SLASH Continuum DOT htm .)

A must read
A classic. Written in a clear concise fashion. Does a good job of the most important theorems in mathematics. and explains them in a way that even a layman can understand. This book is an ideal to gift to a newbie if you want to kindle his/her interest in mathematics. An ideal book for bedtime reading. It took me within 2 weeks to complete this book doing a bedtime reading.

Humbling
I had to read this for a course in Real Analysis, and I find myself rereading chapters or the whole book every year.A great read for a math minded person.Favorite chapter is definitely on Cantor. ... Read more

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One of the leading historians in the mathematics field, Victor Katz provides a world view of mathematics, balancing ancient, early modern, and modern history.

Egypt and Mesopotamia, Greek Mathematics to the Time of Euclid, Greek Mathematics from Archimedes to Ptolemy, Diophantus to Hypatia, Ancient and Medieval China, Ancient and Medieval India, The Mathematics of Islam, Mathematics in Medieval Europe, Mathematics in the Renaissance, Precalculus in the Seventeenth Century, Calculus in the Seventeenth Century, Analysis in the Eighteenth Century, Probability and Statistics in the Eighteenth Century, Algebra and Number Theory in the Eighteenth Century, Geometry in the Eighteenth Century, Algebra and Number Theory in the Nineteenth Century, Analysis in the Nineteenth Century, Statistics in the Nineteenth Century, Geometry in the Nineteenth Century, Aspects of the Twentieth Century

For all readers interested in the history of mathematics.

Customer Reviews (1)

Good information, hard to take in
This is an good textbook on the subject, briefly covers a lot of mathematical history from ancient mathematics around the world, as well as classical and modern Western mathematics. The drawback is skimming that much material that quickly makes it nearly impossible to sink in in a semester. A course may do well to have the students read the chapters so they are exposed to all the different ideas and people and may pursue personal interests that may develop, but focus in on more narrow areas for the target learning outcomes of the class, there really is too much mathematics to do it any of it justice by skimming it like the book does. There are problems pertaining to the mathematics discussed at the end of the chapters, requiring familiarity with proofs. ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1921 edition by the Clarendon Press, Oxford. ... Read more

Product Description
The History of Mathematics: An Introduction, Seventh 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, Seventh Edition a valuable resource that teachers and students will want as part of a permanent library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

disappointing
Interesting subject, well researched but poor formatting and rushed or non-fleshed out reasoning makes this text incredibly disappointing. Not worth your money. If you are at all rusty on algebra and arithmetic, you will get lost or be frustrated with the demonstrations and problems shown in the book. Even the answer guides in the back are poor illustrations of well-worked, fully explained problems. You find a lot of "and so because of X formula, we can see Y". You will think to yourself, how in the world did one make a logical step from the previous statement to the last. The chapters and chapter sections are also very inconspicuous and figures do not relate well to the surrounding text. Quite terrible book unfortunately.

The older version of the book can serve your purpose for study.
This older version bascially have more or less the content of the newer version. However,you must take care that assignment from your teacher with page number may not match the page number of your book.
As for the content of the book, I think it is written in a very interesting way and it make the study an enjoyable task.

Text Book
This book definitely served its purpose!It was the required text for a Math class I took, and the information in it was great - perfectly supplemented the material.I suppose it had too, since it was the required text.A little technical at times, but each chapter starts off with a nice historical overview.

Useful
I've taken several math classes so the chapters that covered material in which I was familiar seemingly flew by, where as others were quite boring.I didn't work out any of the problems, but upon inspection they seemed like they were upper undergraduate level problems.The problems dealt with geometric proofs, number theory, binomial expansion, sequences and series, etc. so for the reader, they might get more out of the book if they've taken the prerequisite classes.Hope this helps.

The History of Mathematics
Happy customer. Received the book promptly and a resonable price compared to the campus bookstore. ... Read more