A tour of the calculus
By: David Berlinski.
Edition: 1st Vintage pbk. ed.
Publisher: Vintage Books
Published: 1997
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 349
Copyright date: 1995
Subjects: Calculus -- Popular works
Genres: Popular works.
Description: "The calculus represents humanity's great and profound meditation on the theme of continuity. Time and space are given voice, and speed and area are sub-ordinated to the harsh concept of a limit. The introduction of the real numbers allows the landscape of mathematical analysis to be suffused with thrilling light. In that lit-up landscape, the infinite is for the first time charmed into compliance, men and women gaining the eerie power to ask of certain processes, Suppose it goes on forever, what then? and finding within the calculus a comprehensive answer." "In clear and instructive language David Berlinski explains the concept of limits, how a function describes a relationship between numbers, and the meaning of the real numbers and their role in the re-creation of the world. Hidden for centuries from human insight, an array of mathematical operations and processes become visible." "Berlinski's great achievement is that he not only breathes life into the principles of the calculus but reveals as well processes that occur in the real world. And moving beyond the basics, Berlinski shows us in dramatic and original ways that the calculus is more than a mere system of mathematics. It is also an instrument commensurate at last with humanity's limitless capacity to regard the universe with wonder."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction/ xi; title: A Note to the Reader/ xv; title: The Frame of the Book/ xvii; title: chapter 1 / Masters of the Symbols/ 3; title: chapter 2 / Symbols of the Masters/ 9; title: chapter 3 / The Black Blossoms of Geometry / 16; title: chapter 4 / Cartesian Coordinates / 21; title: chapter 5 / The Unbearable Smoothness of Motion / 30; title: chapter 6 / Yo/ 35; title: chapter 7 / Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Line / 40; title: chapter 8 / The Doctor of Discovery / 44; title: chapter 9 / Real World Rising / 54; title: chapter 10 / Forever Familiar, Forever Unknown / 61; title: chapter 11 / Some Famous Functions/ 75; title: chapter 12 / Speed of Sorts/ 92; title: chapter 13 / Speed, Strange Speed / 106; title: chapter 14 / Paris Days/ 118; title: chapter 15 / Prague Interlude / 129; title: chapter 16 / Memory of Motion / 155; title: chapter 17 / The Dimpled Shoulder / 173; title: chapter 18 / Wrong Way Rolle / 190; title: chapter 19 / The Mean Value Theorem /198; title: chapter 20 / The Song of Igor / 217; title: chapter 21 / Area / 244; title: chapter 22 / Those Legos Vanish / 252; title: chapter 23 / The Integral Wishes to Compute an area / 268; title: chapter 24 / The Integral Wishes to Become a Function / 274; title: chapter 25 / Between the Living and the Dead / 282; title: chapter 26 / A Farewell to Continuity / 304; title: Epilogue / 311; title: Acknowledgements / 313; title: Index / 315