Newton, Leibniz, and the Greatest Mathematical Clash of All Time
Now regarded as the bane of many college students' existence, calculus was one of the most important mathematical innovations of the seventeenth century. But a dispute over its discovery sowed the seeds of discontent between two of the greatest scientific giants of all time - Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
Today Newton and Leibniz are generally considered the twin independent inventors of calculus, and they are both credited with giving mathematics its greatest push forward since the time of the Greeks. Had they known each other under different circumstances, they might have been friends. But in their own lifetimes, the joint glory of calculus was not enough for either and each declared war against the other, openly and in secret.
This long and bitter dispute has been swept under the carpet by historians - perhaps because it reveals Newton and Leibniz in their worst light - but The Calculus Wars tells the full story in narrative form for the first time. This vibrant and gripping account ultimately exposes how these twin mathematical giants were brilliant, proud, at times mad and, in the end, completely human.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
This book reminds us that Leibniz was not above publishing anonymous attacks on his rival, but Newton's initial allegation that Leibniz stole his ideas was vicious and malign -- Steven Poole * The Guardian * Those interested in a lucid, nontechnical account of the battle between Isaac Newton (1642-1727) and German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) over who invented calculus will welcome science writer and debut author Bardi's cautionary tale * Publishers Weekly * Today, Newton and Leibniz get equal credit for inventing [calculus], but during the late 17th century, neither was willing to give the other any credit for the work. Science writer Bardi tells the tale of the public, private, and lifelong feud * Science News *
Sprache
Verlagsort
Harpenden, Herts
Großbritannien
Verlagsgruppe
Produkt-Hinweis
Maße
Höhe: 198 mm
Breite: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84344-036-9 (9781843440369)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Jason Bardi attended graduate school at Johns Hopkins University where he studied in the Biophysics and the Writing Seminars Departments. He is now senior science writer at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.
