Description
What began as an apparently impossible question—how to make sense of the square root of a negative number—became one of mathematics’ most powerful ideas. Tracing the development of the imaginary unit i from ancient mathematical puzzles through centuries of skepticism, debate, and discovery, this engaging history introduces the thinkers and problems that helped bring complex numbers into acceptance. Along the way, it shows how these elusive quantities illuminate subjects ranging from geometry and planetary motion to electrical engineering and theoretical physics. Blending mathematical explanation with lively historical storytelling, the book offers an accessible portrait of a concept that transformed both pure and applied mathematics.
Available Editions
paperback
Princeton University Press
Published Feb 22, 2010
288 pages
ISBN: 9780691127989
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Details
First Published
1998
Language
eng
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.