ENGLISH

Yearning for the Impossible: The Surprising Truths of Mathematics

By Stillwell J.

Book information

Year
2006
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
15 MB (15688773 bytes)
Pages
246\246
Library
mexmat
Time added
2009-07-20 03:45:11
Математика;Популярная математика

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 othersThe 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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