ENGLISH

Yearning for the impossible: the surprising truths of mathematics

By John Stillwell

Book information

Publisher
A K Peters
Year
2006
ISBN
156881254X, 9781568812540
LCC
QA37.3 .S75 2006
Open Library ID
OL3430061M
Language
english
Format
DJVU
Filesize
2 MB (1641983 bytes)
Pages
246\246
Library
kolxoz
DPI
600
Time added
2009-07-20 03:45:11

Description

This book explores the history of mathematics from the perspective of the creative tension between common sense and the "impossible" as the author follows the discovery or invention of new concepts that have marked mathematical progress: - Irrational and Imaginary Numbers - The Fourth Dimension - Curved Space - Infinity and others The author puts these creations into a broader context involving related "impossibilities" from art, literature, philosophy, and physics. By imbedding mathematics into a broader cultural context and through his clever and enthusiastic explication of mathematical ideas the author broadens the horizon of students beyond the narrow confines of rote memorization and engages those who are curious about the place of mathematics in our intellectual landscape.

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