A History of Pi
Description
The classic layman's history of the mathematical constant-"A pure delight.... Entirely offbeat, which gives it its charm" (The Denver Post).
"A very readable account."-Science "A cheerful work."-Scientific American
The history of pi, says the author, though a small part of the history of mathematics, is nevertheless a mirror of the history of man. Petr Beckmann holds up this mirror, giving the background of the times when pi made progress and also when it did not, because science was being stifled by militarism or religious fanaticism. The mathematical level of this book is flexible, and there is plenty for readers of all ages and interests.
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Content
1. Dawn
2. The Belt
3. The Early Greeks
4. Euclid
5. The Roman Pest
6. Archimedes of Syracuse
7. Dusk
8. Night
9. Awakening
10. The Digit Hunters
11. The Last Archimedeans
12. Prelude to Breakthrough
13. Newton
14. Euler
15. The Monte Carlo Method
16. The Transcendence of Pi
17. The Modern Circle Squarers
18. The Computer Age
Notes
Bibliography
Chronological Table
Index
The First 10,000 Decimal Places of Pi
