Read book A Historian Looks Back : The Calculus as Algebra and Selected Writings by Judith V. Grabiner in DOC, EPUB
9780883855720 English 0883855720 Judith Grabiner has written extensively on the history of mathematics, principally for mathematicians rather than historians. This collection of her work highlights the benefits of studying the development of mathematical ideas and the relationship between culture and mathematics. She also considers the struggles and successes of famous mathematicians with the aim of inspiring students and teachers alike. A large part of this book is the author's The Calculus as Algebra: J.-L. Lagrange, 17361813 which focuses on Lagrange's pioneering attempt to reduce the calculus to algebra. The nine other articles are on a broad range of other topics such as some widely held myths about the history of mathematics and the work of heavyweight mathematicians such as Descartes, Newton, Maclaurin and Lagrange. Six of these articles have won awards from the MAA for expository excellence. This collection is an inspiring resource for history of mathematics courses., The author of A Historian Looks Back has long been interested in investigating what mathematicians actually do, and how mathematics actually has developed. She addresses the results of her investigations not principally to other historians, but to mathematicians and teachers of mathematics. This book brings together much of what she has had to say to this audience. The centerpiece of the book is The Calculus as Algebra: J.-L. Lagrange, 1736-1813. Additionally, there are nine articles, six of which have won prizes from the Mathematical Association of America. The Calculus as Algebra describes the achievements, setbacks, and influence of Lagrange's pioneering attempt to reduce the calculus to algebra. The articles address the history of the derivative; the origin of delta-epsilon proofs; Descartes and problem solving; the contrast between the calculus of Newton and Maclaurin and that of Lagran Maclaurin's way of doing mathematics and science and his surprisingly important influence; some widely held "myths" about the history of mathematics; Lagrange's attempt to prove Euclid's parallel postulate; and the central role that mathematics has played throughout the history of western civilization. The development of mathematics cannot be programmed or predicted. Still, seeing how ideas have been formed over time and what the difficulties were can help teachers find new ways to explain mathematics. Appreciating its cultural background can humanize mathematics for students. And famous mathematicians' struggles and successes should interest-and perhaps inspire-researchers. Readers will see not only what the mathematical past was like, but also how important parts of the mathematical present came to be. Book jacket.
9780883855720 English 0883855720 Judith Grabiner has written extensively on the history of mathematics, principally for mathematicians rather than historians. This collection of her work highlights the benefits of studying the development of mathematical ideas and the relationship between culture and mathematics. She also considers the struggles and successes of famous mathematicians with the aim of inspiring students and teachers alike. A large part of this book is the author's The Calculus as Algebra: J.-L. Lagrange, 17361813 which focuses on Lagrange's pioneering attempt to reduce the calculus to algebra. The nine other articles are on a broad range of other topics such as some widely held myths about the history of mathematics and the work of heavyweight mathematicians such as Descartes, Newton, Maclaurin and Lagrange. Six of these articles have won awards from the MAA for expository excellence. This collection is an inspiring resource for history of mathematics courses., The author of A Historian Looks Back has long been interested in investigating what mathematicians actually do, and how mathematics actually has developed. She addresses the results of her investigations not principally to other historians, but to mathematicians and teachers of mathematics. This book brings together much of what she has had to say to this audience. The centerpiece of the book is The Calculus as Algebra: J.-L. Lagrange, 1736-1813. Additionally, there are nine articles, six of which have won prizes from the Mathematical Association of America. The Calculus as Algebra describes the achievements, setbacks, and influence of Lagrange's pioneering attempt to reduce the calculus to algebra. The articles address the history of the derivative; the origin of delta-epsilon proofs; Descartes and problem solving; the contrast between the calculus of Newton and Maclaurin and that of Lagran Maclaurin's way of doing mathematics and science and his surprisingly important influence; some widely held "myths" about the history of mathematics; Lagrange's attempt to prove Euclid's parallel postulate; and the central role that mathematics has played throughout the history of western civilization. The development of mathematics cannot be programmed or predicted. Still, seeing how ideas have been formed over time and what the difficulties were can help teachers find new ways to explain mathematics. Appreciating its cultural background can humanize mathematics for students. And famous mathematicians' struggles and successes should interest-and perhaps inspire-researchers. Readers will see not only what the mathematical past was like, but also how important parts of the mathematical present came to be. Book jacket.