Infinity: A Very Short Introduction
| AUTHOR | Stewart, Ian |
| PUBLISHER | Oxford University Press (07/23/2017) |
| PRODUCT TYPE | Paperback (Paperback) |
Description
Infinity is an intriguing topic, with connections to religion, philosophy, metaphysics, logic, and physics as well as mathematics. Its history goes back to ancient times, with especially important contributions from Euclid, Aristotle, Eudoxus, and Archimedes. The infinitely large (infinite) is intimately related to the infinitely small (infinitesimal). Cosmologists consider sweeping questions about whether space and time are infinite. Philosophers and mathematicians ranging from Zeno to Russell have posed numerous paradoxes about infinity and infinitesimals. Many vital areas of mathematics rest upon some version of infinity. The most obvious, and the first context in which major new techniques depended on formulating infinite processes, is calculus. But there are many others, for example Fourier analysis and fractals. In this Very Short Introduction, Ian Stewart discusses infinity in mathematics while also drawing in the various other aspects of infinity and explaining some of the major problems and insights arising from this concept. He argues that working with infinity is not just an abstract, intellectual exercise but that it is instead a concept with important practical everyday applications, and considers how mathematicians use infinity and infinitesimals to answer questions or supply techniques that do not appear to involve the infinite.
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Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13:
9780198755234
ISBN-10:
0198755236
Binding:
Paperback or Softback (Trade Paperback (Us))
Content Language:
English
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Page Count:
160
Carton Quantity:
72
Product Dimensions:
4.30 x 0.50 x 6.80 inches
Weight:
0.30 pound(s)
Feature Codes:
Bibliography,
Index,
Price on Product,
Illustrated
Country of Origin:
GB
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Mathematics | Infinity
Mathematics | Mathematical Analysis
Mathematics | Logic
Dewey Decimal:
511.3
Library of Congress Control Number:
2016955809
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
publisher marketing
Infinity is an intriguing topic, with connections to religion, philosophy, metaphysics, logic, and physics as well as mathematics. Its history goes back to ancient times, with especially important contributions from Euclid, Aristotle, Eudoxus, and Archimedes. The infinitely large (infinite) is intimately related to the infinitely small (infinitesimal). Cosmologists consider sweeping questions about whether space and time are infinite. Philosophers and mathematicians ranging from Zeno to Russell have posed numerous paradoxes about infinity and infinitesimals. Many vital areas of mathematics rest upon some version of infinity. The most obvious, and the first context in which major new techniques depended on formulating infinite processes, is calculus. But there are many others, for example Fourier analysis and fractals. In this Very Short Introduction, Ian Stewart discusses infinity in mathematics while also drawing in the various other aspects of infinity and explaining some of the major problems and insights arising from this concept. He argues that working with infinity is not just an abstract, intellectual exercise but that it is instead a concept with important practical everyday applications, and considers how mathematicians use infinity and infinitesimals to answer questions or supply techniques that do not appear to involve the infinite.
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Author:
Stewart, Ian
IAN STEWART teaches political science at Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
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List Price $12.99
Your Price
$12.86