Librería Portfolio

Where did math come from? Who thought up all those algebra symbols, and why? What is the story behind p? . negative numbers? . the metric system? . quadratic equations? . sine and cosine? . logs? Including five new independent historical sketches, each complete with added questions and projects, this second edition answers these questions and many others in an informal, easy-going style, accessible to teachers, students and anyone who is curious about the history of mathematical ideas. The 30 short stories are preceded by a 58-page bird´s-eye overview of the entire panorama of mathematical history, a whirlwind tour of the most important people, events, and trends that shaped the mathematics we know today. The ´Books You Ought to Read´ section and new bibliography also ensure that up-to-date starting points are provided for readers who want to pursue a topic further.

Demonstrates how and where the mathematical history fits in with broader historical perspectives
Can be used as a history of mathematics text, as preparation for future teachers or simply as an information point for those who want to know more about the origins of mathematics
Includes up-to-date reading suggestions for those wishing to learn more



Table of Contents

Preface
1. History in the mathematics classroom
2. The history of mathematics in a large nutshell
3. Sketches
4. What to read next
5. When they lived
Bibliography
Index
About the authors.