Infinite Powers : The Story of Calculus - The Language of the Universe

From preeminent math personality and author of The Joy of x, a brilliant and endlessly appealing explanation of calculus-how it works and why it makes our lives immeasurably better. Without calculus, we wouldn't have cell phones, TV, GPS, or ultrasound. We wouldn't have unraveled DNA or discovered Neptune or figured out how to put 5,000 songs in your pocket. Though many of us were scared away from this essential, engrossing subject in high school and college, Steven Strogatz's brilliantly creative, down-to-earth history shows that calculus is not about complexity; it's about simplicity. It harnesses an unreal number-infinity-to tackle real-world problems, breaking them down into easier ones and then reassembling the answers into solutions that feel miraculous. Infinite Powers recounts how calculus tantalized and thrilled its inventors, starting with its first glimmers in ancient Greece and bringing us right up to the discovery of gravitational waves (a phenomenon predicted by calculus). Strogatz reveals how this form of math rose to the challenges of each age: how to determine the area of a circle with only sand and a stick; how to explain why Mars goes "backwards" sometimes; how to make electricity with magnets; how to ensure your rocket doesn't miss the moon; how to turn the tide in the fight against AIDS. As Strogatz proves, calculus is truly the language of the universe. By unveiling the principles of that language, Infinite Powers makes us marvel at the world anew. From preeminent math personality and author of The Joy of x, a brilliant and endlessly appealing explanation of calculus-how it works and why it makes our lives immeasurably better. A New York Times bestseller Featured on NPR's Science Friday Named one of the 10 Best Books to Read this Spring by Amazon's Chris Schluep A New York Times Bestseller Featured on NPR's Science Friday Named one of 10 Best Books to Read this Spring by Amazon's Chris Schluep "Marvelous . . . an array of witty and astonishing stories . . . to illuminate how calculus has helped bring into being our contemporary world and so many of the instruments whose role we now blithely assume."-The Washington Post "Fortunately, we live in an era when a top mathematician can write a book about calculus that is accessible to the mathematically challenged...it is the historical detail in the book that not only allows me to follow the math by taking me through how it was discovered, but also sticks in my mind. [Strogatz] makes me want to get out a textbook and start studying calculus."-Five Books". . . wonderful . . . bringing the insights of calculus-among the most important of all developments in the history of mathematics-to everyone."-Brian Greene, on Twitter "I've never read a clearer explanation of calculus or the significant powers we gained by harnessing infinity. Michael and I highly recommend it!"-Vsauce, on Twitter"Fascinating anecdotes abound in Infinite Powers . . . Strogatz uses the right amount of technical detail to convey complex concepts with clarity . . . evocatively conveys how calculus illuminates the patterns of the Universe, large and small."-Nature "A brilliant, appealing explanation of how calculus works and why it makes our lives so much better."-Amazon's Chris Schluep, for the Saturday Evening Post"Strogatz does a great job of explaining a difficult subject . . . he lays out the case that calculus is fundamental to the way we live today . . . a solid choice for readers who want to know what calculus is all about, and for teachers who wish to improve their presentation."-Library Journal "An energetic effort that successfully communicates the author's love of mathematics."-Kirkus Reviews "Far-ranging survey . . . clear and accessible . . . Strogatz successfully illuminates a notoriously complex NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Marvelous ... an array of witty and astonishing stories ... to illuminate how calculus has helped bring into being our contemporary world."? The Washington Post From preeminent math personality and author of The Joy of x, a brilliant and endlessly appealing explanation of calculus ? how it works and why it makes our lives immeasurably better. Without calculus, we wouldn't have cell phones, TV, GPS, or ultrasound. We wouldn't have unraveled DNA or discovered Neptune or figured out how to put 5,000 songs in your pocket. Though many of us were scared away from this essential, engrossing subject in high school and college, Steven Strogatz's brilliantly creative, down?to?earth history shows that calculus is not about complexity; it's about simplicity. It harnesses an unreal number?infinity?to tackle real?world problems, breaking them down into easier ones and then reassembling the answers into solutions that feel miraculous. Infinite Powers recounts how calculus tantalized and thrilled its inventors, starting with its first glimmers in ancient Greece and bringing us right up to the discovery of gravitational waves (a phenomenon predicted by calculus). Strogatz reveals how this form of math rose to the challenges of each age: how to determine the area of a circle with only sand and a stick; how to explain why Mars goes "backwards" sometimes; how to make electricity with magnets; how to ensure your rocket doesn't miss the moon; how to turn the tide in the fight against AIDS. As Strogatz proves, calculus is truly the language of the universe. By unveiling the principles of that language, Infinite Powers makes us marvel at the world anew Without calculus, we wouldnt have cell phones, TV, GPS, or ultrasound. We wouldnt have unraveled DNA or discovered Neptune or figured out how to put 5,000 songs in your pocket. Though many of us were scared away from this essential, engrossing subject in high school and college, Steven Strogatzs brilliantly creative, downtoearth history shows that calculus is not about complexity; its about simplicity. It harnesses an unreal numberinfinityto tackle realworld problems, breaking them down into easier ones and then reassembling the answers into solutions that feel miraculous. Infinite Powers recounts how calculus tantalized and thrilled its inventors, starting with its first glimmers in ancient Greec e and bringing us right up to the discovery of gravitational waves (a phenomenon predicted by calculus). Strogatz reveals how this form of math rose to the challenges of each age: how to determine the area of a circle with only sand and a stick; how to explain why Mars goes backwards sometimes; how to make electricity with magnets; how to ensure your rocket doesnt miss the moon; how to turn the tide in the fight against AIDS. As Strogatz proves, calculus is truly the language of the universe. By unveiling the principles of that language, Infinite Powers makes us marvel at the world anew. Shortlisted For The Royal Society Science Book Prize 2019 A Magisterial History Of Calculus (and The People Behind It) From One Of The World's Foremost Mathematicians. This Is The Captivating Story Of Mathematics' Greatest Ever Idea: Calculus. Without It, There Would Be No Computers, No Microwave Ovens, No Gps, And No Space Travel. But Before It Gave Modern Man Almost Infinite Powers, Calculus Was Behind Centuries Of Controversy, Competition, And Even Death. Taking Us On A Thrilling Journey Through Three Millennia, Professor Steven Strogatz Charts The Development Of This Seminal Achievement From The Days Of Archimedes To Today's Breakthroughs In Chaos Theory And Artificial Intelligence. Filled With Idiosyncratic Characters From Pythagoras To Fourier, Infinite Powers Is A Compelling Human Drama That Reveals The Legacy Of Calculus On Nearly Every Aspect Of Modern Civilisation, Including Science, Politics, Medicine, Philosophy, And Much Besides. This is the captivating story of mathematics' greatest ever idea: calculus. Without it, there would be no computers, no microwave ovens, no GPS, and no space travel. But before it gave modern man almost infinite powers, calculus was behind centuries of controversy, competition, and even death. Taking us on a thrilling journey through three millennia, professor Steven Strogatz charts the development of this seminal achievement from the days of Aristotle to today's million-dollar reward that awaits whoever cracks Reimann's hypothesis. Filled with idiosyncratic characters from Pythagoras to Euler, Infinite Powers is a compelling human drama that reveals the legacy of calculus on nearly every aspect of modern civilization, including science, politics, ethics, philosophy, and much besides