MATHEMATICS IN THE MAKING

A truly exciting presentation of the history of mathematics, while yet far from complete, returns to the original sources (which Mathematics for the Million- some 25 years ago- did not) as well as the interpretations of present day scholars in the field, and with the assistance of a fine team of artists, includes many visual aids. The 400 illustrations, photographs and diagrams (many of them Dr. Hogben's) will stimulate the reader's understanding of the concepts here which return to the earliest, primitive uses of numbers (counting and measurement) and to the heritage from antiquity- Hindu- Egyptian- Mesopatamian- Greek- Roman- and Far Eastern. From the great contributions of Euclid, Archimedes, Ptolemy, through the European ""swakening"", this traces the development of mathematical thought in the fields of geometry, algebra, calculus, the theory of probability, and closes with a few of the more modern concepts and limitless possibilities ahead... The clear, sharp brilliance of Dr. Hogben's presentation has a happy setting in this handsome book with its liberal, almost prodigal, use of color throughout. It should have a market as permanent and infinite as its subject- and suggests a gift potential for many occasions- confirmation, graduation, Christmas, etc.