The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History |
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The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History
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by Eli Maor
Sales Rank: 57901
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Discount: 34 %
List Price: $24.95
$16.47
At Amazon
on 6-21-2008.
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Features
Cover Type: Hard Cover with 286 pages
Published by: Princeton University Press May 21, 2007
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 0691125260
ISBN 13 Number: 978-0691125268
Book Dimensions:
9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
Weighs: 1.2 pounds
From Publishers Weekly
Maor, an author and Loyola University math history instructor, has crafted a charming tour through math history, introducing the many ways that the Pythagorean Theorem (in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the two shorter sides are equal to the square of the hypotenuse) has been proven, interpreted, described and used over four millennia. Despite its name, there's no solid evidence that Pythagoras, born in 570 BCE, formulated the theorem; tablet fragments from 1700 BC show that the ancient Babylonians knew it so well they had devised algebraic tables of Pythagorean triples, and Hindu writings from the sixth and seventh centuries BC show the theorem at use on the Indian subcontinent. Modern understanding of the theorem comes from Euclid, whose Elements were translated and studied by Muslims and Christians alike, and helped formed the foundation for the European Renaissance. Throughout, Maor leads readers through progressively more complicated proofs, some of them real brain-teasers, and though his text is welcoming, it's likely a few steps beyond the purview of casual readers. The numerically-minded will appreciate Maor's look at mathematics as part of the unstoppable human drive to suss out the patterns of nature and understand them, though math junkies may find themselves setting the book aside to take a crack at its tricky proofs.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Ben Longstaff, New Scientist
"There is something intoxicating about seeing one truth revealed in so many ways makes for hours of glorious mathematical distraction."
Reader Reviews
Eli Maor is a fine mathematician who has produced some wonderful books on math topics for a general--well, let me say, educated--readership. His book, Trigonometric Delights, is my favorite. It is very interesting and engaging. I want to say "for an educated reader" again, though it seems rather redundant. Why would anyone who didn't know anything about trig and have an interest in the subject even bother to pick up the book? Still, as someone who spent more than ten years in high school math classrooms, I also found his work useful to interest and inspire my students (and myself). Since the class I taught most often was geometry, I was very happy to see this book on the Pythagorean theorem. I have to admit, as an avid reader on the subject, I was familiar with much of what's here; particularly, the historical development and the more "Euclidean" applications of the theorem. On the other hand, he developed some proofs and problems I hadn't seen before which I found quite interesting. Overall, however, I didn't find this book quite as engaging as some of his other work. I got the feeling he started off wanted to write a book that would have more universal appeal than some of his other titles. I mean, after all, nearly everyone knows what the Pythagorean theorem is, or has at least heard of it. But there wasn't nearly enough of the "simple" stuff and the last half of the book really goes quite far afield into mathematics without which someone without a pretty decent background in the subject will have a difficult time; particularly since the development is rather sparse in what feels like an aborted effort to keep things simple. Even some of the earlier demonstrations and proofs are a bit difficult if you don't have the background in Greek mathematics which, unfortunately, is often lacking these days. Still, as someone who loves geometry and has a pretty good background in it, I found much here to like. Any reader who feels confident in their mathematical ability will probably find much here to like too.
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The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History
Available from Amazon
Price: $16.47
Updated on 6-21-2008.
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