The Infinite in the Finite

Combining historical fact with a retelling of ancient myths and legends, the author shows how mathematics arose out of the problems of everyday life. He introduces concepts such as geometry, prime numbers, and trigonometry in a way that will totally disarm the reader who fears mathematics and sets them firmly in their historical context.

This book is an extended history of mathematics that places mathematical development firmly in its historical context. Each section begins with a description of the geography and history of the country considered. From there, lively retelling of the creation myths and legends leads on to a description of how its people wrote and counted. This is followed by relevant mathematical material. The book covers; * The geometry of stone circles in Europe * The area of triangles and volume of pyramids that concerned the engineers of the Pharoahs * The Babylonian sexagesimal number system and our present measures of space and time which grew out of it * The use of the abacus and remainder theory in China * Greek mathematics from Pythagoras to Pappus. Detailed accounts of the work of apollonius and Archimedes are given. * The invention of trigonometry by Arab mathematicians * The solution of quadratic equations by completing the square developed in IndiaEach chapter has a mathematical case study which is discussed both in the context of thetimes and in th light of more recent developments. Worked examples are also included."The author has woven together a broad historical backgrounding and some fairly detailed but accessible mathematics in amost exciting way." John Fauvel, author of Let Newton Be!