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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 510.9
EAN num: 9780140147391
ISBN number: 014014739X
Label: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: August 01, 1991
Publishing house: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Sale Popularity Level: 8700
Studio: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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Praise for William Dunham s 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 Physics
Amazon.com Review:
In Journey through Genius, author William Dunham strikes an extraordinary balance between the historical and technical. He devotes each chapter to a principal result of mathematics, such as the solution of the cubic series and the divergence of the harmonic series. Not only does this book tell the stories of the people behind the math, but it also includes discussions and rigorous proofs of the relevant mathematical results.
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Rated by buyers -
A very enjoyable reading for those interested in basic math mixed with just enough relevant history to make it interesting.
My only quibble is that even though we read about Gauss, the prince of math, in two large sections in different chapters, his work is not showcased as main topic.
Rated by buyers -
Not being a mathematician I can only reply as a lay person. I hope William Dunham sticks to his task of transmitting the thread of how certain mathematical ideas evolved from previously unrelated sources.I will be re-reading this particularly in terms subjects such as the connection between the binomial theorem and the developmentof calculus and other explanations you do not find or cannot follow in textbooks. Long live William Dunham.
Rated by buyers -
This is a required text for a class of mine. Easy to read and follow along even if you're not a mathematically inclined person. Enjoy.
Rated by buyers -
First things first: You have to really like maths to appreciate this book. If you have ever wondered how to prove Pythagoras' theorem geometrically, or would like to find out how Archimedes estimated pi, this is the book for you. If not, buy another.
The book has a good mix of stories, explanations and mathematical proofs. It actually answered questions I have been wondering about for a long time (proving Pythagoras' theorem and finding the formula for solving second order equations), but even if you are not the nerd I am, there is a big chance you will find this book fascinating.
Rated by buyers -
This is a great book whether you are a fan of, or a practicing mathematician. Good reading and a great library reference addition.
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