Customer Reviews

Number: From Ahmes to Cantor

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In Number: From Ahmes To Cantor, Midhat Gazale takes the reader on an historical survey of the concept of numbers ranging from the antiquarian civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Maya, Greek, and Hindi, to the Arab invasion of Europe and the Renaissance era. We are introduced to the fascinating and ingenious men of mathematical history, from Ahmes the Egyptian scribe whose efforts helped preserve some of the mathematical secrets of the architects of the pyramids, through the modern era of Georg Cantor, the great 19th Century inventor of transfinite numbers. Number: From Ahmes To Cantor is a superbly written combination of history, mathematics, and a little computer science as it relates to the history, acquisitions, invention, and meaning of numbers. Number: From Ahmes To Cantor is highly recommended reading for students of mathematics, and is an invaluable history completely accessible to the non- specialist general reader with an interest in the history of mathematics.

This book provides a clear exposition of the history of numbers. I wish I had read this book during my college days. I found it invaluable in understanding rational, irrational, transcendental numbers, etc. Mr. Gazale has offered an original definition of real numbers. His generalization of Euler's Theorem is novel and powerful, yet so simple. This book should be a basis for math courses at colleges and universities nationwide.