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Chargement... A History of the Circle: Mathematical Reasoning and the Physical Universepar Ernest Zebrowski
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Inscrivez-vous à LibraryThing pour découvrir si vous aimerez ce livre Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre. The title is a bit of a misnomer, but it does trace the story of the circle and its best friend pi. The bulk of the book describes the nature of mathematical theory and how it differs from physical reality, but in a readable way. Seriously. Most math books that are marketed towards the 'general reader' really can be too much for a serious mathophobe, but this one is actually accessible and I recommend it heartily to the interested reader. The formulas are fairly minimal and quite simple, and the myriad of ways that pi pops up in strange places is astounding, if you stop to think about it. ( ) aucune critique | ajouter une critique
The concept of the circle is ubiquitous. It can be described mathematically, represented physically, and employed technologically. The circle is an elegant, abstract form that has been transformed by humans into tangible, practical forms to make our lives easier. And yet no one has ever discovered a true mathematical circle. Rainbows are fuzzy; car tires are flat on the bottom, and even the most precise roller bearings have measurable irregularities. Ernest Zebrowski, Jr., discusses why investigations of the circle have contributed enormously to our current knowledge of the physical universe. Beginning with the ancient mathematicians and culminating in twentieth-century theories of space and time, the mathematics of the circle has pointed many investigators in fruitful directions in their quests to unravel nature's secrets. Johannes Kepler, for example, triggered a scientific revolution in 1609 when he challenged the conception of the earth's circular motion around the sun. Arab and European builders instigated the golden age of mosque and cathedral building when they questioned the Roman structural arches that were limited to geometrical semicircles. Throughout his book, Zebrowski emphasizes the concepts underlying these mathematicians' calculations, and how these concepts are linked to real-life examples. Substantiated by easy-to-follow mathematical reasoning and clear illustrations, this accessible book presents a novel and interesting discussion of the circle in technology, culture, history, and science. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)510Natural sciences and mathematics Mathematics General MathematicsClassification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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