A Manual of Greek Mathematics.

XVI., 552 Seiten / p. Aus der Bibliothek von Prof. Wolfgang Haase, langjährigem Herausgeber der ANRW und des International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT) / From the library of Prof. Wolfgang Haase, long-time editor of ANRW and the International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT). - altersgemäß sehr guter Zustand / very good condition for age - Greek mathematics is a fascinating subject in itself, aside from its value to teachers and students, for it reflects the general philosophic genius of the Greeks, who first made mathematics a science. Further, their contribution is one of the most enduring products of their civilization, serving almost unchanged as the basis of the most modern mathematics. This study by a prominent teacher and mathematician is a brief but thorough history of that contribution, a well-written, non-technical survey of an important part of our cultural heritage. -- The book begins with material on ancient systems of whole number and fractional notation, and the development of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. There follow discussions of Pythagorean arithmetic; the work of early geometers such as Thales, Anaxagoras, Hippias, and Nicomedes; Plato and the philosophy of mathematics; and the mathematics in Plato. These lead up to a lengthy analysis of the origins, the textual history, and the contents of the twelve books of Euclid's “Elements.” Continuing beyond Euclid, the author stops at such milestones as Aristarchus and the anticipation of Copernicus; the masterful development of the properties of conic section by Apollonius; the theoretical work of Archimedes and his applications to mechanics; the astronomy of Hipparchus and Ptolemy; and the beginnings of Greek algebra and trigonometry. Many of the important documents in the history of mathematics are introduced with brief notes on dates and histories of texts, in addition, minor figures usually omitted from surveys of this type are given proper coverage and due emphasis. -- Sir Thomas approached his subject as one should approach a vital and living intellectual development. Hundreds of topics are covered concisely yet completely in a style that is refreshingly interesting and readable. An additional asset is the emphasis he gives to the development of actual examples, solved by contemporary methods. -- Unlike the author's well-known “History of Greek Mathematics, " which was written with the classical scholar and the expert mathematician in mind, this book is addressed to high school and college students, to teachers, and to those who want to acquire or revitalize a sense of historical perspective in the field of mathematics. -- Unaltered and unabridged republication of the original (1931) edition. Appendix (additional notes on Egyptian and Babylonian mathematics, Hipparchus and Chaldean astronomy).