From Discrete to Continuous
Subtitle: The Broadening of Number Concepts in Early Modern England (Studies in History and Philosophy of Science)
Edition: 1 edition
Publisher: Springer
Published: April 30, 2002
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 184
ISBN-13: 9781402005657
Subjects: History Of Mathematics; History of ideas, intellectual history; Reference; History & Philosophy; Theory Of Numbers; Number concept; Science/Mathematics; Number Theory; General; Mathematics-General; Reference / General; Social Science / Reference; 17th century; 16th century; England; History; Mathematics
Description: "This study explores how the development of algebraic symbolism, logarithms, and the growing practical demands for an expanded number concept all contributed to a broadening of the number concept in early modern England. An interest in solving practical problems was not, in itself, enough to cause a generalisation of the number concept. It was the combined impact of novel practical applications together with the concomitant development of such mathematical advances as algebraic notation and logarithms that produced a broadened number concept."--Jacket.