Significant Figures: The Lives and Work of Great Mathematicians - Rilegato

Stewart, Ian

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0465096123 ISBN 13: 9780465096121

Casa editrice: Basic Books, 2017

Riassunto

A celebrated mathematician traces the history of math through the lives and work of twenty-five pioneering mathematicians

In Significant Figures, acclaimed mathematician Ian Stewart introduces the visionaries of mathematics throughout history. Delving into the lives of twenty-five great mathematicians, Stewart examines the roles they played in creating, inventing, and discovering the mathematics we use today. Through these short biographies, we get acquainted with the history of mathematics from Archimedes to Benoit Mandelbrot, and learn about those too often left out of the cannon, such as Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (c. 780-850), the creator of algebra, and Augusta Ada King (1815-1852), Countess of Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer.

Tracing the evolution of mathematics over the course of two millennia, Significant Figures will educate and delight aspiring mathematicians and experts alike.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

"Mathematics is the universal language, but some of its most prominent practitioners are forgotten figures--even though they've shaped our modern world. Significant Figures walks through the lives and work of 25 great mathematicians, from Archimedes to William Thurston. It's a great primer for those interested in where our universal language of numbers comes from."―Popular Mechanics

"Stewart folds into his biographies a broad swath of mathematics, including Euclidian and non-Euclidean geometries, set theory, calculus, algebra, and topology; readers with an affinity for math will find the material challenging and fun."
―Publishers Weekly

"In Significant Figures, Ian Stewart brings mathematics to life with intriguing accounts of twenty-five extraordinary contributors to the field. His biographical sketches blend equal parts passion--love affairs and rivalries--with insights--groundbreaking discoveries--to offer vivid, complete portraits of his subjects. By showing how even mathematical geniuses face all-too-human challenges, Stewart offers a riveting chronicle of one of humankind's loftiest endeavors."
―Paul Halpern, author The Quantum Labyrinth: How Richard Feynman and John Wheeler Revolutionized Time and Reality

"The biographies that appear here are interesting and accessible; anybody with an interest in mathematics or history would likely enjoy perusing them."―MAA Reviews

"One of the stated goals of this book is to dispel the idea that mathematicians are boring, and this delightful title goes a long way toward that aim."―Library Journal

"Stewart has written a worthy successor to Bell's far-from-outdated classic [Men of Mathematics]-- one that may in time incline an even greater number of young readers to pursue careers in mathematics. Meanwhile, working professionals curious about the lesser-known masters profiled in the book, yet lacking the time or inclination to digest an entire biography, will find Significant Figures both informative and entertaining."―SIAM News

"Part advanced math lesson and part history book, Stewart's celebration of seminal mathematicians and their findings will appeal to anyone who wants to better understand the building blocks of many of today's sciences."―Booklist

"Stewart is the least modish of writers, delivering new scholarship on ancient Chinese and Indian mathematics to supplement a well-rehearsed body of knowledge about the western tradition. A prolific writer himself, Stewart is good at identifying the audiences for mathematics at different periods."―Spectator

"A text for teachers, precocious students, and intellectually curious readers unafraid to tread unfamiliar territory and learn what mad pursuits inspire mathematicians."―Kirkus Reviews

"The search for mathematical truth, no matter how abstract, is ultimately carried out by flesh-and-blood people. In this readable book, Ian Stewart makes math accessible by humanizing its greatest practitioners, simultaneously illuminating who they were and the discoveries they made. You cannot read it without being struck by admiration for the driven souls who created mathematics over the centuries."―Sean Carroll, author of The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself

L'autore:

Ian Stewart is a professor of mathematics at the University of Warwick and the author of numerous books on mathematics. He has written for New Scientist and Scientific American, among other publications. Stewart lives in Coventry, United Kingdom.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Basic Books
• Data di pubblicazione: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0465096123
• ISBN 13: 9780465096121
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 303