The History of Mathematics: An Introduction, 7th Edition

The History of Mathematics: An Introduction, Seventh Edition, is written for the one- or two-semester math history course taken by juniors or seniors, and covers the history behind the topics typically covered in an undergraduate math curriculum or in elementary schools or high schools. Elegantly written in David Burton’s imitable prose, this classic text provides rich historical context to the mathematics that undergrad math and math education majors encounter every day. Burton illuminates the people, stories, and social context behind mathematics’ greatest historical advances while maintaining appropriate focus on the mathematical concepts themselves. Its wealth of information, mathematical and historical accuracy, and renowned presentation make The History of Mathematics: An Introduction, Seventh Edition a valuable resource that teachers and students will want as part of a permanent library.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Early Number Systems and Symbols
Chapter 2 Mathematics in Early Civilizations
Chapter 3 The Beginnings of Greek Mathematics
Chapter 4 The Alexandrian School: Euclid
Chapter 5 The Twilight of Greek Mathematics: Diophantus
Chapter 6 The First Awakening: Fibonacci
Chapter 7 The Renaissance of Mathematics: Cardan and Tartaglia
Chapter 8 The Mechanical World: Descartes and Newton
Chapter 9 The Development of Probability Theory: Pascal, Bernoulli, and Laplace
Chapter 10 The Revival of Number Theory: Fermat, Euler, and Gauss
Chapter 11 Nineteenth-Century Contributions: Lobachevsky to Hilbert
Chapter 12 Transition to the Twentieth Century: Cantor and Kronecker
Chapter 13 Extensions and Generalizations: Hardy, Hausdorff, and Noether