Numbers and geometry
This is a book for every student entering university and getting acquainted with mathematics! In fact, it fully succeeds in conveying the fascination of mathematical thinking and the progress achieved through the centuries. And experiencing the new subject from a source as convincingly composed and written as this book will cause great excitement. It is the combination of the chosen material and its presentation as a homogeneity, the historical integration, the stressing of where something very new is happening -- which altogether make the book so valuable for a beginner. The individual sections are quite short and rarely cover more than two pages; they are always followed by a large set of examples which pursue what has been said before. Each chapter closes with a discussion of the basic ingredients that have shown up. The chronological development of ideas are pointed out as much as possible and often one finds hints at how today's research fits into the matter presented. By no means is this book a textbook in the usual sense; mathematics is not taught on a basis of definition-theorem-proof but, instead, is exhibited and commented on. Why is \(\sin x\) not an algebraic curve, why is \(e\) irrational -- there are many questions, or rather remarks, of that type. In order to give a rough impression about what is concretely addressed in the book, a list of the chapters, each of which is divided into about ten short sections is added here. 1. Arithmetic, 2. Geometry, 3. Coordinates, 4. Rational points, 5. Trigonometry, 6. Finite arithmetic, 7. Complex numbers, 8. Conic sections, 9. Elementary functions. For example, chapter 8 consists of 8.1 Too much, too little, and just right, 8.2 Properties of conic sections, 8.3. Quadratic curves, 8.4 Intersections, 8.5 Integer points on conics, 8.6 Square roots and the Euclidean algorithm, 8.7 Pell's equation, 8.8 Discussion.
- Chapters in mathematics. From to Pell
- Applications of algebra and geometry to the work of teaching
- On some rational triangles
- A Mathematical Gift, II
- Algebra \& geometry. An introduction to university mathematics
- Numbers and Figures
- Conservation of energy, envelopes and geodesics on surfaces of revolution
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