Numbers and Infinity

Perfect for either undergraduate mathematics or science history courses this account presents a fresh and detailed reconstruction of the development of two mathematical fundamentals: numbers and infinity. One of the rare texts that offers a friendly and conversational tone it avoids tedium and controversy while maintaining historical accuracy in defining its concepts' profound mathematical significance.<br>The authors begin by discussing the representation of numbers integers and types of numbers and cubic equations. Additional topics include complex numbers quaternions and vectors; Greek notions of infinity; the 17th-century development of the calculus; the concept of functions; and transfinite numbers. The text concludes with an appendix on essay topics a bibliography and an index.