e: The Story of a Number by Eli Maor
The story of pi has been told many times, both in scholarly works and in popular books. But its close relative, the number e, has fared less well. Despite the central role it plays in mathematics, its history has never before been written for a general audience. The present work fills this gap. Geared to the reader with only a modest background in mathematics, the book describes the story of e from a human as well as a mathematical perspective. In a sense, it is the story of an entire period in the history of mathematics, from the early 17th to the late 19th century, with the invention of calculus at its centre. Many of the players who took part in this story are brought to life. Among them are John Napier, the eccentric religious activist who invented logarithms and - unknowingly - came within a hair's breadth of discovering e; William Oughtred, the inventor of the slide rule; Newton and his bitter priority dispute with Leibniz over the invention of calculus, a conflict that impeded British mathematics for more than a century; and Jacob Bernoulli.
"Honorable Mention for the 1994 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Mathematics, Association of American Publishers"
"This is a gently paced, elegantly composed book, and it will bring its readers much pleasure. . . Maor has written an excellent book that should be in every public and school library."---Ian Stewart, New Scientist
"Maor wonderfully tells the story of e. The chronological history allows excursions into the lives of people involved with the development of this fascinating number. Maor hangs his story on a string of people stretching from Archimedes to David Hilbert. And by presenting mathematics in terms of the humans who produced it, he places the subject where it belongs--squarely in the centre of the humanities."---Jerry P. King, Nature
"Maor has succeeded in writing a short, readable mathematical story. He has interspersed a variety of anecdotes, excursions, and essays to lighten the flow.... [The book] is like the voyages of Columbus as told by the first mate."---Peter Borwein, Science
"Maor attempts to give the irrational number e its rightful standing alongside pi as a fundamental constant in science and nature; he succeeds very well.... Maor writes so that both mathematical newcomers and long-time professionals alike can thoroughly enjoy his book, learn something new, and witness the ubiquity of mathematical ideas in Western culture." * Choice *
"It can be recommended to readers who want to learn about mathematics and its history, who want to be inspired and who want to understand important mathematical ideas more deeply." * EMS Newsletter *
"[A] very interesting story about the history of e, logarithms, and related matters, especially the history of calculus. . . . [A] useful complement to a course in calculus and analysis, shedding light on some fundamental topics."---Mehdi Hassani, MAA Reviews
"This is a gently paced, elegantly composed book, and it will bring its readers much pleasure. . . Maor has written an excellent book that should be in every public and school library."---Ian Stewart, New Scientist
"Maor wonderfully tells the story of e. The chronological history allows excursions into the lives of people involved with the development of this fascinating number. Maor hangs his story on a string of people stretching from Archimedes to David Hilbert. And by presenting mathematics in terms of the humans who produced it, he places the subject where it belongs--squarely in the centre of the humanities."---Jerry P. King, Nature
"Maor has succeeded in writing a short, readable mathematical story. He has interspersed a variety of anecdotes, excursions, and essays to lighten the flow.... [The book] is like the voyages of Columbus as told by the first mate."---Peter Borwein, Science
"Maor attempts to give the irrational number e its rightful standing alongside pi as a fundamental constant in science and nature; he succeeds very well.... Maor writes so that both mathematical newcomers and long-time professionals alike can thoroughly enjoy his book, learn something new, and witness the ubiquity of mathematical ideas in Western culture." * Choice *
"It can be recommended to readers who want to learn about mathematics and its history, who want to be inspired and who want to understand important mathematical ideas more deeply." * EMS Newsletter *
"[A] very interesting story about the history of e, logarithms, and related matters, especially the history of calculus. . . . [A] useful complement to a course in calculus and analysis, shedding light on some fundamental topics."---Mehdi Hassani, MAA Reviews
Eli Maor is the author of Beautiful Geometry (with Eugen Jost), Venus in Transit, Trigonometric Delights, To Infinity and Beyond, and The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History (all Princeton).
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780691033907 |
| ISBN 10 | 0691033900 |
| Title | e: The Story of a Number |
| Author | Eli Maor |
| Series | Princeton Science Library |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Princeton University Press |
| Year published | 1994-05-04 |
| Number of pages | 240 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |