Sign-In
Cart
Abel's Proof: An Essay on the Sources and Meaning of Mathematical Unsolvability
Paperback
ISBN13: 9780262661829
Publisher: MIT Press
Published: Feb 27 2004
Pages: 213
Weight: 0.52
Height: 0.44 Width: 5.33 Depth: 8.01
Language: English
In 1824 a young Norwegian named Niels Henrik Abel proved conclusively that algebraic equations of the fifth order are not solvable in radicals. In this book Peter Pesic shows what an important event this was in the history of thought. He also presents it as a remarkable human story. Abel was twenty-one when he self-published his proof, and he died five years later, poor and depressed, just before the proof started to receive wide acclaim. Abel's attempts to reach out to the mathematical elite of the day had been spurned, and he was unable to find a position that would allow him to work in peace and marry his fiancé.
But Pesic's story begins long before Abel and continues to the present day, for Abel's proof changed how we think about mathematics and its relation to the real world. Starting with the Greeks, who invented the idea of mathematical proof, Pesic shows how mathematics found its sources in the real world (the shapes of things, the accounting needs of merchants) and then reached beyond those sources toward something more universal. The Pythagoreans' attempts to deal with irrational numbers foreshadowed the slow emergence of abstract mathematics. Pesic focuses on the contested development of algebra--which even Newton resisted--and the gradual acceptance of the usefulness and perhaps even beauty of abstractions that seem to invoke realities with dimensions outside human experience. Pesic tells this story as a history of ideas, with mathematical details incorporated in boxes. The book also includes a new annotated translation of Abel's original proof.
Also from
Pesic, Peter
Also in
General Mathematics
The Golden Number: Pythagorean Rites and Rhythms in the Development of Western Civilization
Ghyka, Matila C.
Hardcover
How It All Works: All Scientific Laws and Phenomena Illustrated & Demonstrated
Clegg, Brian
Dant, Adam
Hardcover
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Paperback
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher
Feynman, Richard P.
Leighton, Robert B.
Sands, Matthew
Paperback
Oliver Byrne's Elements of Euclid: The First Six Books with Coloured Diagrams and Symbols (Art Meets Science Edition)
Art Meets Science
Hardcover
Math Practice Workbook Grades 6-8: 1000+ Questions You Need to Kill in Middle School by Brain Hunter Prep
Brain Hunter Prep
Paperback
Who Gets What -- And Why: The New Economics of Matchmaking and Market Design
Roth, Alvin E.
Paperback
Tomoko Fuse's Amazing Kusudama Origami: Geometric Paper Art from Japan's Leading Expert!
Fuse, Tomoko
Paperback
The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life
Nalebuff, Barry J.
Dixit, Avinash K.
Paperback
Mastering Essential Math Skills Book 2, Bilingual Edition - English/Spanish
Fisher, Richard W.
Paperback
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Hardcover
The Great Math War: How Three Brilliant Minds Fought for the Foundations of Mathematics
Bardi, Jason Socrates
Hardcover
Math Games with Bad Drawings: 75 1/4 Simple, Challenging, Go-Anywhere Games--And Why They Matter
Orlin, Ben
Hardcover
Counting with - Contando Con Frida (Bilingual: English/Spanish): A Bilingual Counting Book
Stein, Ariana
Rodriguez, Patty
Hardcover
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Paperback
Quadrivium: The Four Classical Liberal Arts of Number, Geometry, Music, & Cosmology
Lundy, Miranda
Ashton, Anthony
Sutton, Daud
Hardcover
Graph Paper Composition Notebook: Quad Ruled 5x5, Grid Paper for Students in Math and Science
Wizo, Math
Paperback
50 Math Tricks That Will Change Your Life: Mentally Solve the Impossible in Seconds
Zakowich, Tanya
Paperback
New York Post Fiendish Sudoku: The Official Utterly Addictive Number-Placing Puzzle
Gould, Wayne
Paperback
Vector: A Surprising Story of Space, Time, and Mathematical Transformation
Arianrhod, Robyn
Hardcover
Touchthinklearn: Numbers: (Board Books for Baby Learners, Touch Feel Books for Children)
Deneux, Xavier
Hardcover
Quantum Mechanics Done Right: The Shortest Path from Novice to Researcher
Freericks, James K.
Hardcover
ALEKS Math Placement Test Prep 2026: 1200 Verified Practice Questions with Accurate Answer Keys, Step-by-Step Worked Solutions, and Clear Concept Expl
Reid, Marcus L.
Publishing, Kettford
Paperback
A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)
Oakley, Barbara
Paperback
Sudoku for Brain Fitness: 90-Day Challenge to Sharpen the Mind and Strengthen Cognitive Skills
Clontz, Steven
Demyanovich, Julie
Paperback
Un Elefante: Numbers / Números (Bilingual: English/Spanish): A Bilingual Counting Book
Stein, Ariana
Rodriguez, Patty
Hardcover
WorkKeys Study Guide and Practice Test Questions: ACT WorkKeys Exam Prep and Review Book with Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading f
Trivium Exam Prep Team
Paperback
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12: 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning
Liljedahl, Peter
Paperback
Talentos Ocultos: La Genialidad No Tiene Color. La Fuerza No Tiene Género. El Valor No Tiene Límite.
Shetterly, Margot Lee
Paperback
Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician's Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks
Benjamin, Arthur
Shermer, Michael
Paperback
Concrete Mathematics: A Foundation for Computer Science
Graham, Ronald
Patashnik, Oren
Knuth, Donald
Hardcover
180 Days(r) Math for First Grade: Practice, Assess, Diagnose
Smith, Jodene Lynn
Smith, Jodene
Paperback
Number Systems and the Foundations of Analysis
Mathematics
Mendelson, Elliott
Dudley, Underwood
Paperback
Medical Dosage Calculations for Dummies
Snyder, Richard W.
Depuente, Vanessa
Schoenborn, Barry
Paperback
The Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe: The Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science
Schneider, Michael S.
Paperback
Reaching for the Extreme: How the Quest for the Biggest, Fewest, and Weirdest Makes Math
Stewart, Ian
Hardcover
300 Math CrossWords: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division Math CrossWords Grade 3 and Above, Age +8
Martin, Josh Ortiz
Paperback
Sciencia: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Astronomy for All
Watkins, Matthew
Betts, Moff
Tweed, Matt
Hardcover
Math Fundamentals 3 - Geometry: For Middle School - A Quickstudy Laminated Reference Guide
Expolog
Warren, Peggy
Wright, Susan
Other
Machine Learning with PyTorch and Scikit-Learn: Develop machine learning and deep learning models with Python
Mirjalili, Vahid
Raschka, Sebastian
Liu, Yuxi (Hayden)
Paperback
30 More Math Mysteries Kids Can't Resist!: Quick & Clever Mysteries That Boost Problem-Solving Skills
Lee, Martin
Paperback
It's All a Game: The History of Board Games from Monopoly to Settlers of Catan
Donovan, Tristan
Paperback