Math Through the Ages: A Gentle History for Teachers and Others

Berlinghoff, William P.; Gouvea, Fernando Q.

ISBN 10: 188192954X / ISBN 13: 9781881929543

Published by Oxton House Pub, 2014

Fast Free Shipping â Very Good condition book with a firm cover and clean pages. Shows normal use and some light wear or limited notes markings. A solid, nice copy to enjoy. Seller Inventory # GWV.188192954X.VG

Synopsis:

Where did maths come from? Who thought up all those algebra symbols, and why? What's the story behind ... negative numbers? ... the metric system? ... quadratic equations? ... sine and cosine? The 25 independent sketches in Math through the Ages answer these questions and many others in an informal, easygoing style that's accessible to teachers, students, and anyone who is curious about the history of mathematical ideas. Each sketch contains Questions and Projects to help you learn more about its topic and to see how its main ideas fit into the bigger picture of history. The 25 short stories are preceded by a 56-page bird's-eye overview of the entire panorama of mathematical history, a whirlwind tour of the most important people, events, and trends that shaped the mathematics we know today. Reading suggestions after each sketch provide starting points for readers who want to pursue a topic further.

Review: 'This is a beautiful and important book, a pleasure to read, in which the history recounted fully illuminates the mathematical ideas, and the ideas themselves are superbly explained: a wonderful accomplishment.' Barry Mazur, Harvard University

Bibliographic Details

Title: Math Through the Ages: A Gentle History for ...
Publisher: Oxton House Pub
Publication Date: 2014
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: very_good
Edition: 2nd Edition