Sign-In
Cart
Making up Numbers: A History of Invention in Mathematics
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781800640962
Publisher: Open Book Publ S
Published: Oct 15 2020
Pages: 280
Weight: 1.56
Height: 0.88 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Making up Numbers: A History of Invention in Mathematics offers a detailed but accessible account of a wide range of mathematical ideas. Starting with elementary concepts, it leads the reader towards aspects of current mathematical research.
The book explains how conceptual hurdles in the development of numbers and number systems were overcome in the course of history, from Babylon to Classical Greece, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, and so to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The narrative moves from the Pythagorean insistence on positive multiples to the gradual acceptance of negative numbers, irrationals and complex numbers as essential tools in quantitative analysis.
Within this chronological framework, chapters are organised thematically, covering a variety of topics and contexts: writing and solving equations, geometric construction, coordinates and complex numbers, perceptions of 'infinity' and its permissible uses in mathematics, number systems, and evolving views of the role of axioms.
Through this approach, the author demonstrates that changes in our understanding of numbers have often relied on the breaking of long-held conventions to make way for new inventions at once providing greater clarity and widening mathematical horizons. Viewed from this historical perspective, mathematical abstraction emerges as neither mysterious nor immutable, but as a contingent, developing human activity.
Making up Numbers will be of great interest to undergraduate and A-level students of mathematics, as well as secondary school teachers of the subject. In virtue of its detailed treatment of mathematical ideas, it will be of value to anyone seeking to learn more about the development of the subject.
Also in
General Mathematics
The Golden Number: Pythagorean Rites and Rhythms in the Development of Western Civilization
Ghyka, Matila C.
Hardcover
How It All Works: All Scientific Laws and Phenomena Illustrated & Demonstrated
Dant, Adam
Clegg, Brian
Hardcover
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Paperback
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher
Leighton, Robert B.
Sands, Matthew
Feynman, Richard P.
Paperback
Oliver Byrne's Elements of Euclid: The First Six Books with Coloured Diagrams and Symbols (Art Meets Science Edition)
Art Meets Science
Hardcover
Math Practice Workbook Grades 6-8: 1000+ Questions You Need to Kill in Middle School by Brain Hunter Prep
Brain Hunter Prep
Paperback
Who Gets What -- And Why: The New Economics of Matchmaking and Market Design
Roth, Alvin E.
Paperback
Tomoko Fuse's Amazing Kusudama Origami: Geometric Paper Art from Japan's Leading Expert!
Fuse, Tomoko
Paperback
The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life
Dixit, Avinash K.
Nalebuff, Barry J.
Paperback
Mastering Essential Math Skills Book 2, Bilingual Edition - English/Spanish
Fisher, Richard W.
Paperback
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Hardcover
The Great Math War: How Three Brilliant Minds Fought for the Foundations of Mathematics
Bardi, Jason Socrates
Hardcover
Math Games with Bad Drawings: 75 1/4 Simple, Challenging, Go-Anywhere Games--And Why They Matter
Orlin, Ben
Hardcover
Counting with - Contando Con Frida (Bilingual: English/Spanish): A Bilingual Counting Book
Rodriguez, Patty
Stein, Ariana
Hardcover
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Paperback
Quadrivium: The Four Classical Liberal Arts of Number, Geometry, Music, & Cosmology
Sutton, Daud
Lundy, Miranda
Ashton, Anthony
Hardcover
Graph Paper Composition Notebook: Quad Ruled 5x5, Grid Paper for Students in Math and Science
Wizo, Math
Paperback
50 Math Tricks That Will Change Your Life: Mentally Solve the Impossible in Seconds
Zakowich, Tanya
Paperback
New York Post Fiendish Sudoku: The Official Utterly Addictive Number-Placing Puzzle
Gould, Wayne
Paperback
Vector: A Surprising Story of Space, Time, and Mathematical Transformation
Arianrhod, Robyn
Hardcover
Touchthinklearn: Numbers: (Board Books for Baby Learners, Touch Feel Books for Children)
Deneux, Xavier
Hardcover
Quantum Mechanics Done Right: The Shortest Path from Novice to Researcher
Freericks, James K.
Hardcover
ALEKS Math Placement Test Prep 2026: 1200 Verified Practice Questions with Accurate Answer Keys, Step-by-Step Worked Solutions, and Clear Concept Expl
Reid, Marcus L.
Publishing, Kettford
Paperback
A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)
Oakley, Barbara
Paperback
Sudoku for Brain Fitness: 90-Day Challenge to Sharpen the Mind and Strengthen Cognitive Skills
Demyanovich, Julie
Clontz, Steven
Paperback
Un Elefante: Numbers / Números (Bilingual: English/Spanish): A Bilingual Counting Book
Stein, Ariana
Rodriguez, Patty
Hardcover
WorkKeys Study Guide and Practice Test Questions: ACT WorkKeys Exam Prep and Review Book with Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading f
Trivium Exam Prep Team
Paperback
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12: 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning
Liljedahl, Peter
Paperback
Talentos Ocultos: La Genialidad No Tiene Color. La Fuerza No Tiene Género. El Valor No Tiene Límite.
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Paperback
Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician's Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks
Shermer, Michael
Benjamin, Arthur
Paperback
Concrete Mathematics: A Foundation for Computer Science
Patashnik, Oren
Knuth, Donald
Graham, Ronald
Hardcover
180 Days(r) Math for First Grade: Practice, Assess, Diagnose
Smith, Jodene
Smith, Jodene Lynn
Paperback
Number Systems and the Foundations of Analysis
Mendelson, Elliott
Dudley, Underwood
Mathematics
Paperback
Medical Dosage Calculations for Dummies
Depuente, Vanessa
Schoenborn, Barry
Snyder, Richard W.
Paperback
The Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe: The Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science
Schneider, Michael S.
Paperback
Reaching for the Extreme: How the Quest for the Biggest, Fewest, and Weirdest Makes Math
Stewart, Ian
Hardcover
300 Math CrossWords: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division Math CrossWords Grade 3 and Above, Age +8
Martin, Josh Ortiz
Paperback
Sciencia: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Astronomy for All
Betts, Moff
Tweed, Matt
Watkins, Matthew
Hardcover
Math Fundamentals 3 - Geometry: For Middle School - A Quickstudy Laminated Reference Guide
Expolog
Warren, Peggy
Wright, Susan
Other
Machine Learning with PyTorch and Scikit-Learn: Develop machine learning and deep learning models with Python
Mirjalili, Vahid
Raschka, Sebastian
Liu, Yuxi (Hayden)
Paperback
30 More Math Mysteries Kids Can't Resist!: Quick & Clever Mysteries That Boost Problem-Solving Skills
Lee, Martin
Paperback
It's All a Game: The History of Board Games from Monopoly to Settlers of Catan
Donovan, Tristan
Paperback