The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension, 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics

Clifford A. Pickover

Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2009 - Mathematics - 527 pages

Math’s infinite mysteries and beauty unfold in this follow-up to the best-selling The Science Book. Beginning millions of years ago with ancient “ant odometers” and moving through time to our modern-day quest for new dimensions, it covers 250 milestones in mathematical history. Among the numerous delights readers will learn about as they dip into this inviting anthology: cicada-generated prime numbers, magic squares from centuries ago, the discovery of pi and calculus, and the butterfly effect. Each topic gets a lavishly illustrated spread with stunning color art, along with formulas and concepts, fascinating facts about scientists’ lives, and real-world applications of the theorems.

What people are saying

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User Review  - jms001 - LibraryThing

After nearly a year, I have finally finished the book about math. It may sound daunting, especially for your average person. But if you really love math concepts, and you really love reading, then ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - julie10reads - LibraryThing

The sub-title gives the best summary of this gorgeous book. I find the iridescent prime numbers on the cover particularly charming. Haven't made it through all chronologically ordered 250 milestones ...

Contents

• Introduction: 10
• B C Go: 42
• B C Euclids Elements: 56
• B C Archimedes Spiral: 66
• Slide Rule: 130
• Fermats Spiral: 132
• Fermats Last Theorem: 134
• Descartes La Géométrie: 136
• Cardioid: 138
• Logarithmic Spiral: 140
• Projective Geometry: 142
• Torricellis Trumpet: 144
• Pascals Triangle: 146
• The Length of Neiles Semicubical Parabola: 148
• Vivianis Theorem: 150
• Discovery of Calculus: 152
• Newtons Method: 154
• Tautochrone Problem: 156
• Astroid: 158
• LHôpitals Analysis of the Infinitely Small: 160
• Rope around the Earth Puzzle: 162
• Law of Large Numbers: 164
• Eulers Number e: 166
• Stirlings Formula: 168
• Normal Distribution Curve: 170
• EulerMascheroni Constant: 172
• Königsberg Bridges: 174
• St Petersburg Paradox: 176
• 1: 177
• Goldbach Conjecture: 178
• Agnesis Instituzioni Analitiche: 180
• Eulers Formula for Polyhedra: 182
• Eulers Polygon Division Problem: 184
• Knights Tours: 186
• Bayes Theorem: 188
• Franklin Magic Square: 190
• Minimal Surface: 192
• Buffons Needle: 194
• ThirtySix Officers Problem: 196
• Sangaku Geometry: 198
• Least Squares: 200
• Constructing a Regular Heptadecagon: 202
• Fundamental Theorem of Algebra: 204
• Gausss Disquisitiones Arithmeticae: 206
• ThreeArmed Protractor: 208
• Fourier Series: 210
• Laplaces Théorie Analytique des Probabilités: 212
• Prince Ruperts Problem: 214
• Bessel Functions: 216
• Babbage Mechanical Computer: 218
• Cauchys Le Calcul Infinitésimal: 220
• Barycentric Calculus: 222
• NonEuclidean Geometry: 224
• Möbius Function: 226
• Group Theory: 228
• Pigeonhole Principle: 230
• Quaternions: 232
• Transcendental Numbers: 234
• Catalan Conjecture: 236
• The Matrices of Sylvester: 238
• FourColor Theorem: 240
• Boolean Algebra: 242
• Icosian Game: 244
• Harmonograph: 246
• The Möbius Strip: 248
• Holditchs Theorem: 250
• Riemann Hypothesis: 252
• Beltramis Pseudosphere: 254
• Weierstrass Function: 256
• Gross Théorie du Baguenodier: 258
• The Doctorate of Kovalevskaya: 260
• Reuleaux Triangle: 266
• Venn Diagrams: 272
• Tower of Hanoi: 278
• Peano Axioms: 284
• Sylvesters Line Problem: 290
• Morleys Trisector Theorem: 296
• Boys Surface: 302
• Poincaré Conjecture: 308
• Jordan Curve Theorem: 314
• Normal Number: 320
• Hairy Ball Theorem: 326
• Information Theory: 394
• Nash Equilibrium: 400
• Cellular Automata: 406
• Turning a Sphere Inside Out: 412
• Newcombs Paradox: 418
• Ulam Spiral: 424
• Fuzzy Logic: 430
• Sprouts: 436
• Donald Knuth and Mastermind: 442
• Penrose Tiles: 448
• Chaitins Omega: 454
• Notes and Further Reading: 518
• Orem: 519
• Index: 526

About the author

Clifford A. Pickover received his PhD from Yale in Biophysics and Biochemistry, and has written more than 40 books and over 200 articles. For many years he was the lead columnist for Discover magazine’s “Brain-Boggler,” and is known for his calendar and card sets, Mind-Bending Visual Puzzles. Currently, he writes the “Brain Strain” column for Odyssey, is associate editor for the scientific journal Computers and Graphics, and serves on the editorial board for Odyssey, Leonardo, and YLEM. His computer graphics have appeared on the covers of numerous magazines, and his research has received considerable attention from such media outlets as CNN, the Discovery Channel, The New York Times, and WIRED.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension, 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics; Sterling Milestones Series
• Author: Clifford A. Pickover
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2009
• ISBN: 1402757964, 9781402757969
• Length: 527 pages
• Subjects: Mathematics / History & Philosophy