The ellipse : a historical and mathematical journey / / Arthur Mazer

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910816880203321
• Autore: Mazer Arthur <1958->
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Hoboken, N.J., : Wiley, c2010
• ISBN: 1-283-20335-9; 9786613203359; 0-470-59103-X; 0-470-59102-1
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (320 p.)
• Disciplina: 516/.152
• Soggetti: Ellipse; Mathematics - History
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Description based upon print version of record.
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Introduction -- The trail : starting out -- The space : geometry -- The language : algebra -- The universal tool : trigonometry -- The slayer : calculus -- Eight minutes that changed history.
• Sommario/riassunto: Explores the development of the ellipse and presents mathematical concepts within a rich, historical context The Ellipse features a unique, narrative approach when presenting the development of this mathematical fixture, revealing its parallels to mankind's advancement from the Counter-Reformation to the Enlightenment. Incorporating illuminating historical background and examples, the author brings together basic concepts from geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and calculus to uncover the ellipse as the shape of a planet's orbit around the sun. The book begins with a discus