In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World - Brossura

Stewart, Ian

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0465085989 ISBN 13: 9780465085989

Casa editrice: Basic Books, 2013

Riassunto

The seventeen equations that form the basis for life as we know it

Most people are familiar with history's great equations: Newton's Law of Gravity, for instance, or Einstein's theory of relativity. But the way these mathematical breakthroughs have contributed to human progress is seldom appreciated. In In Pursuit of the Unknown, celebrated mathematician Ian Stewart untangles the roots of our most important mathematical statements to show that equations have long been a driving force behind nearly every aspect of our lives.

Using seventeen of our most crucial equations--including the Wave Equation that allowed engineers to measure a building's response to earthquakes, saving countless lives, and the Black-Scholes model, used by bankers to track the price of financial derivatives over time--Stewart illustrates that many of the advances we now take for granted were made possible by mathematical discoveries.

An approachable, lively, and informative guide to the mathematical building blocks of modern life, In Pursuit of the Unknown is a penetrating exploration of how we have also used equations to make sense of, and in turn influence, our world.

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Informazioni sull?autore

Ian Stewart is emeritus professor of mathematics at the University of Warwick. His recent books include Calculating the Cosmos, Significant Figures, In Pursuit of the Unknown, and Professor Stewart's Hoard of Mathematical Treasures. He is a fellow of the Royal Society. He lives in Coventry, UK.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Basic Books
• Data di pubblicazione: 2013
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0465085989
• ISBN 13: 9780465085989
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 342
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile