-
Books
-
Education
-
eBooks
-
Audio Books
-
Film & TV
-
Calendars, Diaries & Stationery
-
Giftshop
Browse through the navigation bar
-
Books
-
Education
-
eBooks
-
Audio Books
-
Film & TV
-
Calendars, Diaries & Stationery
-
Giftshop
RRP $54.99
$44.95
Save19%
RRP means 'Recommended Retail Price' and is the price our supplier recommends to retailers that the product be offered for sale. It does not necessarily mean the product has been offered or sold at the RRP by us or anyone else.
Spend another {0} to pay with
or 4 easy payments of $11.24 with
Age range: 14 to 17 years old
Hardback
Pub: 27/01/2007
In this fascinating discussion of ancient mathematics, author Peter Rudman does not just chronicle the archaeological record of what mathematics was done; he digs deeper into the more important question of why it was done in a particular way. Why did the Egyptians use a bizarre method of expressing… more fractions? Why did the Babylonians use an awkward number system based on multiples of 60? Rudman answers such intriguing questions, arguing that some mathematical thinking is universal and timeless. The similarity of the Babylonian and Mayan number systems, two cultures widely separated in time and space, illustrates the argument. He then traces the evolution of number systems from finger counting in hunter-gatherer cultures to pebble counting in herder-farmer cultures of the Nile and Tigris-Euphrates valleys, which defined the number systems that continued to be used even after the invention of writing. With separate chapters devoted to the remarkable Egyptian and Babylonian mathematics of the era from about 3500 to 2000 BCE, when all of the basic arithmetic operations and even quadratic algebra became doable, Rudman concludes his interpretation of the archaeological record.
Since some of the mathematics formerly credited to the Greeks is now known to be a prior Babylonian invention, Rudman adds a chapter that discusses the math used by Pythagoras, Eratosthenes, and Hippasus, which has Babylonian roots, illustrating the watershed difference in abstraction and rigor that the Greeks introduced. He also suggests that we might improve present-day teaching by taking note of how the Greeks taught math. Complete with sidebars offering recreational math brainteasers, this engrossing discussion of the evolution of mathematics will appeal to both scholars and lay readers with an interest in mathematics and its history. less
Since some of the mathematics formerly credited to the Greeks is now known to be a prior Babylonian invention, Rudman adds a chapter that discusses the math used by Pythagoras, Eratosthenes, and Hippasus, which has Babylonian roots, illustrating the watershed difference in abstraction and rigor that the Greeks introduced. He also suggests that we might improve present-day teaching by taking note of how the Greeks taught math. Complete with sidebars offering recreational math brainteasers, this engrossing discussion of the evolution of mathematics will appeal to both scholars and lay readers with an interest in mathematics and its history. less
- ISBN:
- 9781591024774
- 9781591024774
- Category:
- History of mathematics
- Age range:
- 14 to 17 years old
- Format:
- Hardback
- Publication Date:
- 27-01-2007
- Language:
- English
- Publisher:
- Prometheus Books
- Country of origin:
- United States
- Pages:
- 314
- Dimensions:
- 230x155x23mm
- Weight:
- 0.55kg
Our Australian supplier has this title on order. You can place a backorder for this title now and we will ship it to you when it becomes available.
While we are unable to provide a delivery estimate, most backorders will be delivered within 120 days. If we are informed by our supplier that the title is no longer available during this time, we will cancel and refund you for this item. Likewise, if no delivery estimate has been provided within 120 days, we will contact our supplier for an update. If there is still no delivery estimate we will then cancel the item and provided you with a refund.
If we are able to secure you a copy of the title, our supplier will despatch it to our Sydney warehouse. Once received we make sure it is in perfect condition and then despatch it to you via the Australia Post eParcel service, which includes online tracking. You will receive a shipping notice from us when this occurs.
Reviews
This product has no reviews yet.
Thanks for reviewing How Mathematics Happened. We will process your review. Accepted reviews will be posted within 3-7 business days.
You are buying a backorder title
×Be the first to know, stay up to date with what's trending and get staff picks in your inbox with our newsletter
Follow Us
Secured by:
Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
Share This Book