Euler: The Master of Us All ( Dolciani Mathematical Expositions Series, No. 22) FROM THE PUBLISHER
Leonhard Euler was one of the most prolific mathematicians that have ever lived. This book examines the huge scope of mathematical areas explored and developed by Euler, which includes number theory, combinatorics, geometry, complex variables and many more. The information known to Euler over 300 years ago is discussed, and many of his advances are reconstructed. Readers will be left in no doubt about the brilliance and pervasive influence of Euler's work.
SYNOPSIS
Selected
as an Outstanding Academic Book by Choice Magazine.
From the award winning author of Journey Through Genius: The Great
Theorems of Mathematics and The Mathematical Universe. Without question,
Leonhard Euler (1707-1783) ranks among historyﾽs greatest mathematicians. Over
six decades of unmatched productivity, and despite a visual impairment that grew
ever worse, he charted the course of mathematics throughout the eighteenth
century and beyond. His reputation is captured in Laplaceﾽs famous admonition,
ﾽRead Euler, read Euler. He is the master of us all.ﾽ
Written for the mathematically literate reader, this book provides a
glimpse of Euler in action. Following an introductory biographical sketch are
chapters describing his contributions to eight different topicsﾽﾽnumber theory,
logarithms, infinite series, analytic number theory, complex variables, algebra,
geometry, and combinatorics. Each chapter begins with a prologue to establish
the historical context and then proceeds to a detailed consideration of one or
more Eulerian theorems on the subject at hand. Each chapter concludes with an
epilogue surveying subsequent developments or addressing related questions that
remain unanswered to this day. At the end of the book is a brief outline of
Eulerﾽs collected works, the monumental Opera Omnia, for which 73 volumes are in
print. Many volumes are yet to appear. In
all, the book contains three dozen proofs from this remarkable individual. Yet
this is merely the tip of the scholarly iceberg, for Euler produced over 30,000
pages of pure and applied mathematics during his lifetime. Euler: The Master of
Us All samples the work of a mathematician whose influence, industry, and
ingenuity are of the very highest order.
FROM THE CRITICS
Math Reviews
Dunham's fine book captures the spirit of Euler's achievements and enables the English reader with a solid background in calculus and school algebra to share the enjoyment.... The first six chapters are a carefully orchestrated examination of Euler's use of algebra and analysis to study perfect numbers, primes, series expansions of transcendental functions, sums of certain series of integer reciprocals and the theory of equations.
Booknews
The title derives from Laplace's assessment of Euler (1707-83): "Read Euler ... He is the master of us all." For the mathematically literate, Dunham (mathematics, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA) introduces the visually impaired genius (whose picture graces 10 franc Swiss currency); places his contributions to number theory, infinite series, and other diverse areas in a historical context; and outlines his magnum opus, . Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Home
