The Mathematical Century

The Mathematical Century
Author: Piergiorgio Odifreddi
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2006-10-22
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0691128057
GET BOOK

Download The Mathematical Century Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The twentieth century was a time of unprecedented development in mathematics, as well as in all sciences: more theorems were proved and results found in a hundred years than in all of previous history. In The Mathematical Century, Piergiorgio Odifreddi distills this unwieldy mass of knowledge into a fascinating and authoritative overview of the subject. He concentrates on thirty highlights of pure and applied mathematics. Each tells the story of an exciting problem, from its historical origins to its modern solution, in lively prose free of technical details. Odifreddi opens by discussing the four main philosophical foundations of mathematics of the nineteenth century and ends by describing the four most important open mathematical problems of the twenty-first century. In presenting the thirty problems at the heart of the book he devotes equal attention to pure and applied mathematics, with applications ranging from physics and computer science to biology and economics. Special attention is dedicated to the famous "23 problems" outlined by David Hilbert in his address to the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1900 as a research program for the new century, and to the work of the winners of the Fields Medal, the equivalent of a Nobel prize in mathematics. This eminently readable book will be treasured not only by students and their teachers but also by all those who seek to make sense of the elusive macrocosm of twentieth-century mathematics.

A Century of Mathematics in America

A Century of Mathematics in America
Author: Peter L. Duren
Publisher: Springer Science & Business
Total Pages: 692
Release: 1988
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780821801369
GET BOOK

Download A Century of Mathematics in America Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Part of the A Century of Mathematics in America collection, this book contains articles that describe the mathematics and the mathematical personalities in some of the nations' prominent departments: Johns Hopkins, Clark, Columbia, MIT, Michigan, Texas, and the Institute for Advanced Study.

Historiography of Mathematics in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Historiography of Mathematics in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Author: Volker R. Remmert
Publisher: Birkhäuser
Total Pages: 282
Release: 2016-12-08
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 3319396498
GET BOOK

Download Historiography of Mathematics in the 19th and 20th Centuries Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This book addresses the historiography of mathematics as it was practiced during the 19th and 20th centuries by paying special attention to the cultural contexts in which the history of mathematics was written. In the 19th century, the history of mathematics was recorded by a diverse range of people trained in various fields and driven by different motivations and aims. These backgrounds often shaped not only their writing on the history of mathematics, but, in some instances, were also influential in their subsequent reception. During the period from roughly 1880-1940, mathematics modernized in important ways, with regard to its content, its conditions for cultivation, and its identity; and the writing of the history of mathematics played into the last part in particular. Parallel to the modernization of mathematics, the history of mathematics gradually evolved into a field of research with its own journals, societies and academic positions. Reflecting both a new professional identity and changes in its primary audience, various shifts of perspective in the way the history of mathematics was and is written can still be observed to this day. Initially concentrating on major internal, universal developments in certain sub-disciplines of mathematics, the field gradually gravitated towards a focus on contexts of knowledge production involving individuals, local practices, problems, communities, and networks. The goal of this book is to link these disciplinary and methodological changes in the history of mathematics to the broader cultural contexts of its practitioners, namely the historians of mathematics during the period in question.

Landscape of 21st Century Mathematics

Landscape of 21st Century Mathematics
Author: Bogdan Grechuk
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 437
Release: 2021-09-21
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 3030806278
GET BOOK

Download Landscape of 21st Century Mathematics Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Landscape of 21st Century Mathematics offers a detailed cross section of contemporary mathematics. Important results of the 21st century are motivated and formulated, providing an overview of recent progress in the discipline. The theorems presented in this book have been selected among recent achievements whose statements can be fully appreciated without extensive background. Grouped by subject, the selected theorems represent all major areas of mathematics: number theory, combinatorics, analysis, algebra, geometry and topology, probability and statistics, algorithms and complexity, and logic and set theory. The presentation is self-contained with context, background and necessary definitions provided for each theorem, all without sacrificing mathematical rigour. Where feasible, brief indications of the main ideas of a proof are given. Rigorous yet accessible, this book presents an array of breathtaking recent advances in mathematics. It is written for everyone with a background in mathematics, from inquisitive university students to mathematicians curious about recent achievements in areas beyond their own.

Five Golden Rules

Five Golden Rules
Author: John Casti
Publisher:
Total Pages: 264
Release: 1996
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN:
GET BOOK

Download Five Golden Rules Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

In Five Golden Rules, John L. Casti serves as curator to a brilliant collection of 20th-century mathematical theories, leading us on a fascinating journey of discovery and insight. Probing the frontiers of modern mathematics, Casti examines the origins of some of the most important findings of this century. This is a tale of mystery and logic, elegance and reason; it is the story of five monumental mathematical breakthroughs and how they shape our lives. All those intrigued by the mathematical process, nonacademics and professionals alike, will find this an enlightening, eye-opening, and entertaining work. High school algebra or geometry - and enthusiasm - are the only prerequisites. From the theorem that provided the impetus for modern computers to the calculations that sent the first men to the Moon, these breakthroughs have transformed our lives. Casti illustrates each theorem with a dazzling array of real-world problems it has helped solve - how to calculate the shape of space, optimize investment returns, even chart the course of the development of organisms. Along the way, we meet the leading thinkers of the day: John von Neumann, L. E. J. Brouwer, Marston Morse, and Alan Turing, among others. And we come to understand the combination of circumstances that led each to such revolutionary discoveries as the Minimax Theorem, which spawned the exciting field of game theory, and the Simplex Method, which underpins the powerful tools of optimization theory.

Mathematics and Its History

Mathematics and Its History
Author: John Stillwell
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 400
Release: 2020-11-07
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 3030551938
GET BOOK

Download Mathematics and Its History Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This textbook provides a unified and concise exploration of undergraduate mathematics by approaching the subject through its history. Readers will discover the rich tapestry of ideas behind familiar topics from the undergraduate curriculum, such as calculus, algebra, topology, and more. Featuring historical episodes ranging from the Ancient Greeks to Fermat and Descartes, this volume offers a glimpse into the broader context in which these ideas developed, revealing unexpected connections that make this ideal for a senior capstone course. The presentation of previous versions has been refined by omitting the less mainstream topics and inserting new connecting material, allowing instructors to cover the book in a one-semester course. This condensed edition prioritizes succinctness and cohesiveness, and there is a greater emphasis on visual clarity, featuring full color images and high quality 3D models. As in previous editions, a wide array of mathematical topics are covered, from geometry to computation; however, biographical sketches have been omitted. Mathematics and Its History: A Concise Edition is an essential resource for courses or reading programs on the history of mathematics. Knowledge of basic calculus, algebra, geometry, topology, and set theory is assumed. From reviews of previous editions: “Mathematics and Its History is a joy to read. The writing is clear, concise and inviting. The style is very different from a traditional text. I found myself picking it up to read at the expense of my usual late evening thriller or detective novel.... The author has done a wonderful job of tying together the dominant themes of undergraduate mathematics.” Richard J. Wilders, MAA, on the Third Edition "The book...is presented in a lively style without unnecessary detail. It is very stimulating and will be appreciated not only by students. Much attention is paid to problems and to the development of mathematics before the end of the nineteenth century.... This book brings to the non-specialist interested in mathematics many interesting results. It can be recommended for seminars and will be enjoyed by the broad mathematical community." European Mathematical Society, on the Second Edition

Mathematics Into the Twenty-first Century

Mathematics Into the Twenty-first Century
Author: American Mathematical Society
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
Total Pages: 514
Release: 1992
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780821801673
GET BOOK

Download Mathematics Into the Twenty-first Century Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

In the summer of 1988 in Providence, the AMS celebrated its centennial with a wide range of mathematical activities. Among those was a symposium, Mathematics into the Twenty-first Century, which brought together a number of the top research mathematicians who will likely have a significant impact on the mathematics of this century. This book contains the lectures presented by 16 of the 18 individuals who spoke during the symposium. Written by some of the major international figures in mathematical research, this group of articles covers a panorama of the vital areas of mathematics at the turn of the 21st century and gives the general mathematical reader a broad perspective on some of the major trends in research.

Social History of Nineteenth Century Mathematics

Social History of Nineteenth Century Mathematics
Author: Mehrtens
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 307
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1468494910
GET BOOK

Download Social History of Nineteenth Century Mathematics Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

During the last few decades historians of science have shown a growing interest in science as a cultural activity and have regarded science more and more as part of the gene ral developments that have occurred in society. This trend has been less evident arnong historians of mathematics, who traditionally concentrate primarily on tracing the develop ment of mathematical knowledge itself. To some degree this restriction is connected with the special role of mathematics compared with the other sciences; mathematics typifies the most objective, most coercive type of knowledge, and there fore seems to be least affected by social influences. Nevertheless, biography, institutional history and his tory of national developments have long been elements in the historiography of mathematics. This interest in the social aspects of mathematics has widened recently through the stu dy of other themes, such as the relation of mathematics to the development of the educational system. Some scholars have begun to apply the methods of historical sociology of knowledge to mathematics; others have attempted to give a ix x Marxist analysis of the connection between mathematics and productive forces, and there have been philosophical studies about the communication processes involved in the production of mathematical knowledge. An interest in causal analyses of historical processes has led to the study of other factors influencing the development of mathematics, such as the f- mation of mathematical schools, the changes in the profes- onal situation of the mathematician and the general cultural milieu of the mathematical scientist.

A Century of Advancing Mathematics

A Century of Advancing Mathematics
Author: Paul Zorn
Publisher: The Mathematical Association of America
Total Pages: 436
Release: 2015-08-23
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0883855887
GET BOOK

Download A Century of Advancing Mathematics Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The MAA was founded in 1915 to serve as a home for The American Mathematical Monthly. The mission of the Association-to advance mathematics, especially at the collegiate level-has, however, always been larger than merely publishing world-class mathematical exposition. MAA members have explored more than just mathematics; we have, as this volume tries to make evident, investigated mathematical connections to pedagogy, history, the arts, technology, literature, every field of intellectual endeavor. Essays, all commissioned for this volume, include exposition by Bob Devaney, Robin Wilson, and Frank Morgan; history from Karen Parshall, Della Dumbaugh, and Bill Dunham; pedagogical discussion from Paul Zorn, Joe Gallian, and Michael Starbird, and cultural commentary from Bonnie Gold, Jon Borwein, and Steve Abbott. This volume contains 35 essays by all-star writers and expositors writing to celebrate an extraordinary century for mathematics-more mathematics has been created and published since 1915 than in all of previous recorded history. We've solved age-old mysteries, created entire new fields of study, and changed our conception of what mathematics is. Many of those stories are told in this volume as the contributors paint a portrait of the broad cultural sweep of mathematics during the MAA's first century. Mathematics is the most thrilling, the most human, area of intellectual inquiry; you will find in this volume compelling proof of that claim.