A Mathematical spectrum miscellany: Selections from Mathematical spectrum, 1967-1994 [Paperback]

Product Details

• Paperback: 198 pages
• Publisher: Applied Probability Trust (2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0902016059
• ISBN-13: 978-0902016057
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,663,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars A selection of short papers suited for courses in math history, March 22, 2006

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Mathematical spectrum miscellany: Selections from Mathematical spectrum, 1967-1994 (Paperback)

This collection of short papers on a wide variety of mathematical topics is an excellent introduction to those topics. There are six main sections:

*) The Spirit of Mathematics.
*) Some History of Mathematics: Biographies of Mathematicians.
*) Recent Advances in Mathematics.
*) The Lure of Pure Mathematics and Geometry.
*) Simple Applications of Mathematics.
*) The Mathematics of Randomness.

Examples of a paper from each section are:

*) How Obvious It It? - a set of quick deductions when the problem appears complex.
*) Women in Mathematics - short biographies of some famous female mathematicians.
*) Fermat's Last Theorem - a Theorem at Last - a brief history of the theorem including the resolution by Andrew Wiles.
*) The Legend of Leonardo of Pisa - a brief biography of Fibonacci.
*) Animal Mathematics - an analysis of why larger and heavier animals cannot fly.
*) A Bayesian Look at the Jury System - an analysis of the probability that a defendant that is found guilty is in fact guilty.

While there are proofs, most are not difficult to follow, and can be understood by a first year college math major. The articles provide a sound selection of brief papers that are well suited for use in a course in the history of mathematics. I also recommend them as the starting point for student research projects.