Articles liés à Gamma: Exploring Euler's Constant

Gamma: Exploring Euler's Constant - Couverture souple

Livre 9 sur 61: Princeton Science Library

Havil, Julian

 
9780691178103: Gamma: Exploring Euler's Constant
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 0691178100 ISBN 13 : 9780691178103
Editeur : Princeton University Press, 2017

Synopsis

Among the many constants that appear in mathematics, π, e, and i are the most familiar. Following closely behind is y, or gamma, a constant that arises in many mathematical areas yet maintains a profound sense of mystery.

In a tantalizing blend of history and mathematics, Julian Havil takes the reader on a journey through logarithms and the harmonic series, the two defining elements of gamma, toward the first account of gamma's place in mathematics.

Introduced by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), who figures prominently in this book, gamma is defined as the limit of the sum of 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + . . . Up to 1/n, minus the natural logarithm of n--the numerical value being 0.5772156. . . . But unlike its more celebrated colleagues π and e, the exact nature of gamma remains a mystery--we don't even know if gamma can be expressed as a fraction.

Among the numerous topics that arise during this historical odyssey into fundamental mathematical ideas are the Prime Number Theorem and the most important open problem in mathematics today--the Riemann Hypothesis (though no proof of either is offered!).

Sure to be popular with not only students and instructors but all math aficionados, Gamma takes us through countries, centuries, lives, and works, unfolding along the way the stories of some remarkable mathematics from some remarkable mathematicians.

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À propos de l'auteur

Julian Havil is a retired former master at Winchester College, England, where he taught mathematics for thirty-three years. He received a Ph.D. in mathematics from Oxford University. Freeman Dyson is professor emeritus of physics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He is the author of several books, including Disturbing the Universe and Origins of Life.

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Éditeur
Princeton University Press
Date d'édition
2017
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0691178100
ISBN 13 
9780691178103
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
296
Coordonnées du fabricant
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu/books

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