An Imaginary Tale by Paul J Nahin

An Imaginary Tale by Paul J Nahin

Tells the 2000-year-old history of one of mathematics' elusive numbers, the square root of minus one, also known as i. This book weaves into the historical facts and mathematical discussions, including the application of complex numbers and functions to problems, such as Kepler's laws of planetary motion and ac electrical circuits.

A book-length hymn of praise to the square root of minus one-- Brian Rotman Times Literary Supplement An Imaginary Tale is marvelous reading and hard to put down. Readers will find that Nahin has cleared up many of the mysteries surrounding the use of complex numbers. -- Victor J. Katz Science [An Imaginary Tale] can be read for fun and profit by anyone who has taken courses in introductory calculus, plane geometry and trigonometry. -- William Thompson American Scientist Someone has finally delivered a definitive history of this 'imaginary' number... A must read for anyone interested in mathematics and its history. -- D. S. Larson Choice Attempting to explain imaginary numbers to a non-mathematician can be a frustrating experience... On such occasions, it would be most useful to have a copy of Paul Nahin's excellent book at hand. -- A. Rice Mathematical Gazette Imaginary numbers! Threeve! Ninety-fifteen! No, not those kind of imaginary numbers. If you have any interest in where the concept of imaginary numbers comes from, you will be drawn into the wonderful stories of how i was discovered. -- Rebecca Russ Math Horizons There will be something of reward in this book for everyone. -- R.G. Keesing Contemporary Physics Nahin has given us a fine addition to the family of books about particular numbers. It is interesting to speculate what the next member of the family will be about. Zero? The Euler constant? The square root of two? While we are waiting, we can enjoy An Imaginary Tale. -- Ed Sandifer MAA Online Paul Nahin's book is a delightful romp through the development of imaginary numbers. -- Robin J. Wilson London Mathematical Society Newsletter

Paul J. Nahin is the author of many best-selling popular math books, including "Digital Dice, Chases and Escapes, Dr. Euler's Fabulous Formula, When Least Is Best, Duelling Idiots and Other Probability Puzzlers," and "Mrs. Perkins's Electric Quilt" (all Princeton). He is professor emeritus of electrical engineering at the University of New Hampshire.

SKU	Non disponible
ISBN 13	9780691127989
ISBN 10	0691127980
Titre	An Imaginary Tale
Auteur	Paul J Nahin
État	Non disponible
Type de reliure	Paperback
Éditeur	Princeton University Press
Année de publication	2007-01-22
Nombre de pages	296
Prix	Runner-up for Choice Magazine Outstanding Reference/Academic Book Award 1999, Runner-up for AAP/Professional and Scholarly Publishing Awards: Mathematics and Statistics 1998
Note de couverture	La photo du livre est présentée à titre d'illustration uniquement. La reliure, la couverture ou l'édition réelle peuvent varier.
Note	Non disponible