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An entertaining history of mathematics as chronicled through fifty
short biographies. Mathematics today is the fruit of centuries of
brilliant insights by men and women whose personalities and life
experiences were often as extraordinary as their mathematical
achievements. This entertaining history of mathematics chronicles
those achievements through fifty short biographies that bring these
great thinkers to life while making their contributions
understandable to readers with little math background. Among the
fascinating characters profiled are Isaac Newton (1642-1727), the
founder of classical physics and infinitesimal calculus--he
frequently quarreled with fellow scientists and was obsessed by
alchemy and arcane Bible interpretation; Sophie Germain (1776 -
1831), who studied secretly at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris,
using the name of a previously enrolled male student--she is
remembered for her work on Fermat's Last Theorem and on elasticity
theory; Emmy Noether (1882 - 1935), whom Albert Einstein described
as the most important woman in the history of mathematics--she made
important contributions to abstract algebra and in physics she
clarified the connection between conservation laws and symmetry;
and Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920), who came from humble origins
in India and had almost no formal training, yet made substantial
contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite
series, and continued fractions. The unusual behavior and life
circumstances of these and many other intriguing personalities make
for fascinating reading and a highly enjoyable introduction to
mathematics.
The book presents a comprehensive overview of various aspects of
three-dimensional geometry that can be experienced on a daily
basis. By covering the wide range of topics - from the psychology
of spatial perception to the principles of 3D modelling and
printing, from the invention of perspective by Renaissance artists
to the art of Origami, from polyhedral shapes to the theory of
knots, from patterns in space to the problem of optimal packing,
and from the problems of cartography to the geometry of solar and
lunar eclipses - this book provides deep insight into phenomena
related to the geometry of space and exposes incredible nuances
that can enrich our lives.The book is aimed at the general
readership and provides more than 420 color illustrations that
support the explanations and replace formal mathematical arguments
with clear graphical representations.
The book presents a comprehensive overview of various aspects of
three-dimensional geometry that can be experienced on a daily
basis. By covering the wide range of topics - from the psychology
of spatial perception to the principles of 3D modelling and
printing, from the invention of perspective by Renaissance artists
to the art of Origami, from polyhedral shapes to the theory of
knots, from patterns in space to the problem of optimal packing,
and from the problems of cartography to the geometry of solar and
lunar eclipses - this book provides deep insight into phenomena
related to the geometry of space and exposes incredible nuances
that can enrich our lives.The book is aimed at the general
readership and provides more than 420 color illustrations that
support the explanations and replace formal mathematical arguments
with clear graphical representations.
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