Math through the Ages: A Gentle History for Teachers and Others (Mathematical Association of America Textbooks)

Where did maths come from? Who thought up all those algebra symbols, and why? What's the story behind … negative numbers? … the metric system? … quadratic equations? … sine and cosine? The 25 independent sketches in Math through the Ages answer these questions and many others in an informal, easygoing style that's accessible to teachers, students, and anyone who is curious about the history of mathematical ideas. Each sketch contains Questions and Projects to help you learn more about its topic and to see how its main ideas fit into the bigger picture of history. The 25 short stories are preceded by a 56-page bird's-eye overview of the entire panorama of mathematical history, a whirlwind tour of the most important people, events, and trends that shaped the mathematics we know today. Reading suggestions after each sketch provide starting points for readers who want to pursue a topic further.

Bill Berlinghoff received his PhD in mathematics from Wesleyan University. He is a Visiting Professor at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He is the author of several college texts for liberal arts mathematics.

Fernando Gouvea received his PhD from Harvard University. He is a Professor of Mathematics at Colby College. He is the author of a number of books, research papers, and expository articles in mathematics.