Covering a span of almost 4000 years, from the ancient Babylonians to the eighteenth century, this collection chronicles the enormous changes in mathematical thinking over this time as viewed by distinguished historians of mathematics from the past and the present. Each of the four sections of the book (Ancient Mathematics, Medieval and Renaissance Mathematics, The Seventeenth Century, The Eighteenth Century) is preceded by a Foreword, in which the articles are put into historical context, and followed by an Afterword, in which they are reviewed in the light of current historical scholarship. In more than one case, two articles on the same topic are included to show how knowledge and views about the topic changed over the years. This book will be enjoyed by anyone interested in mathematics and its history - and, in particular, by mathematics teachers at secondary, college, and university levels.

An engaging new approach to teaching algebra that takes students on a historical journey from its roots to modern times. This book’s unique approach to the teaching of mathematics lies in its use of history to provide a framework for understanding algebra and related fields. With Algebra in Context, students will soon discover why mathematics is such a crucial part not only of civilization but also of everyday life. Even those who have avoided mathematics for years will find the historical stories both inviting and gripping. The book’s lessons begin with the creation and spread of number systems, from the mathematical development of early civilizations in Babylonia, Greece, China, Rome, Egypt, and Central America to the advancement of mathematics over time and the roles of famous figures such as Descartes and Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci). Before long, it becomes clear that the simple origins of algebra evolved into modern problem solving. Along the way, the language of mathematics becomes familiar, and students are gradually introduced to more challenging problems. Paced perfectly, Amy Shell-Gellasch and J. B. Thoo’s chapters ease students from topic to topic until they reach the twenty-first century. By the end of Algebra in Context, students using this textbook will be comfortable with most algebra concepts, including • Different number bases • Algebraic notation • Methods of arithmetic calculation • Real numbers • Complex numbers • Divisors • Prime factorization • Variation • Factoring • Solving linear equations • False position • Solving quadratic equations • Solving cubic equations • nth roots • Set theory • One-to-one correspondence • Infinite sets • Figurate numbers • Logarithms • Exponential growth • Interest calculations

Why did Florence Nightingale introduce pie charts? How did Lewis Carroll regard Pythagoras? Who learned calculus from her nursery wallpaper? Spanning from the ancient world to the modern age, The Great Mathematicians tells fascinating and unusual tales of the men and women who transformed mathematics. We meet the mathematician who knew eight languages by the time he was 11, the one who was sent to jail for gambling and the one who published a lot yet never existed. As well as providing rich bibliographic detail, Professors Raymond Flood and Robin Wilson explain various theorems using concise and accessible language. These include the Pythagorean theorem, Gödel's Incompleteness theorem, Fermat's Last Theorem and many more. Flood and Wilson are both former presidents of the British Society for the History of Mathematics and are uniquely qualified to lay out this incredible tale. This entertaining and rigorously accurate book presents mathematics with a human face, celebrating the achievements of the greatest mathematicians across history.

An accessible introduction to real analysis and its connectionto elementary calculus Bridging the gap between the development and history of realanalysis, Introduction to Real Analysis: An EducationalApproach presents a comprehensive introduction to real analysiswhile also offering a survey of the field. With its balance ofhistorical background, key calculus methods, and hands-onapplications, this book provides readers with a solid foundationand fundamental understanding of real analysis. The book begins with an outline of basic calculus, including aclose examination of problems illustrating links and potentialdifficulties. Next, a fluid introduction to real analysis ispresented, guiding readers through the basic topology of realnumbers, limits, integration, and a series of functions in naturalprogression. The book moves on to analysis with more rigorousinvestigations, and the topology of the line is presented alongwith a discussion of limits and continuity that includes unusualexamples in order to direct readers' thinking beyond intuitivereasoning and on to more complex understanding. The dichotomy ofpointwise and uniform convergence is then addressed and is followedby differentiation and integration. Riemann-Stieltjes integrals andthe Lebesgue measure are also introduced to broaden the presentedperspective. The book concludes with a collection of advancedtopics that are connected to elementary calculus, such as modelingwith logistic functions, numerical quadrature, Fourier series, andspecial functions. Detailed appendices outline key definitions and theorems inelementary calculus and also present additional proofs, projects,and sets in real analysis. Each chapter references historicalsources on real analysis while also providing proof-orientedexercises and examples that facilitate the development ofcomputational skills. In addition, an extensive bibliographyprovides additional resources on the topic. Introduction to Real Analysis: An Educational Approach isan ideal book for upper- undergraduate and graduate-level realanalysis courses in the areas of mathematics and education. It isalso a valuable reference for educators in the field of appliedmathematics.

An exploration of the interaction between mathematics, mathematicians and society. What would Newton see if he looked out his window?

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.

Mathematical ideas with aesthetic appeal for any mathematically minded person.