The Pythagorean Theorem
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-0-691-14823-6 (ISBN)
By any measure, the Pythagorean theorem is the most famous statement in all of mathematics. In this book, Eli Maor reveals the full story of this ubiquitous geometric theorem. Maor shows that the theorem, although attributed to Pythagoras, was known to the Babylonians more than a thousand years earlier. Pythagoras may have been the first to prove it, but his proof - if indeed he had one - is lost to us. The theorem itself, however, is central to almost every branch of science, pure or applied. Maor brings to life many of the characters that played a role in the development of the Pythagorean theorem, providing a fascinating backdrop to perhaps our oldest enduring mathematical legacy.
Eli Maor is the author of "Venus in Transit", "Trigonometric Delights, To Infinity and Beyond", and "e: The Story of a Number" (all Princeton). He teaches the history of mathematics at Loyola University in Chicago and at the Graham School of General Education at the University of Chicago.
List of Color Plates ix Preface xi Prologue: Cambridge, England, 1993 1 Chapter 1: Mesopotamia, 1800 bce 4 Sidebar 1: Did the Egyptians Know It? 13 Chapter 2: Pythagoras 17 Chapter 3: Euclid's Elements 32 Sidebar 2: The Pythagorean Theorem in Art, Poetry, and Prose 45 Chapter 4: Archimedes 50 Chapter 5: Translators and Commentators, 500-1500 ce 57 Chapter 6: Francois Viete Makes History 76 Chapter 7: From the Infinite to the Infinitesimal 82 Sidebar 3: A Remarkable Formula by Euler 94 Chapter 8: 371 Proofs, and Then Some 98 Sidebar 4: The Folding Bag 115 Sidebar 5: Einstein Meets Pythagoras 117 Sidebar 6: A Most Unusual Proof 119 Chapter 9: A Theme and Variations 123 Sidebar 7: A Pythagorean Curiosity 140 Sidebar 8: A Case of Overuse 142 Chapter 10: Strange Coordinates 145 Chapter 11: Notation, Notation, Notation 158 Chapter 12: From Flat Space to Curved Spacetime 168 Sidebar 9: A Case of Misuse 177 Chapter 13: Prelude to Relativity 181 Chapter 14: From Bern to Berlin, 1905-1915 188 Sidebar 10: Four Pythagorean Brainteasers 197 Chapter 15: But Is It Universal? 201 Chapter 16: Afterthoughts 208 Epilogue: Samos, 2005 213 Appendixes A. How did the Babylonians Approximate? 219 B. Pythagorean Triples 221 C. Sums of Two Squares 223 D. A Proof that is Irrational 227 E. Archimedes' Formula for Circumscribing Polygons 229 F. Proof of some Formulas from Chapter 7 231 G. Deriving the Equation x2/3 ??y2/3 ??1 235 H. Solutions to Brainteasers 237 Chronology 241 Bibliography 247 Illustrations Credits 251 Index 253
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 15.8.2010 |
|---|---|
| Reihe/Serie | Princeton Science Library |
| Zusatzinfo | 8 b&w illus. 141 line illus. 2 tables. |
| Verlagsort | New Jersey |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 156 x 235 mm |
| Gewicht | 454 g |
| Themenwelt | Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik |
| Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik ► Allgemeines / Lexika | |
| Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik ► Geometrie / Topologie | |
| Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik ► Geschichte der Mathematik | |
| Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik ► Mathematische Spiele und Unterhaltung | |
| ISBN-10 | 0-691-14823-6 / 0691148236 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0-691-14823-6 / 9780691148236 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
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