The Historical Development of the Calculus

Edwards, Jr., C. H.

ISBN 10: 0387904360 / ISBN 13: 9780387904368

Published by Springer-Verlag New York Inc, New York, 1979

About this Item

This is a hard-to-find first printing of the first edition of "The Historical Development of the Calculus," by C.H. Edwards, Jr., published in 1979 most of the used copies out there are of the corrected second printing, released in 1982. In his book, Edwards does not give the full history of calculus, but instead starts with the Babylonian calculations of area and demonstrates how analysis became more rigorous and arithmetized by the end of the 19th century, with a concentration on the work of Newton and Leibniz. Unusually, it is more interested in methods than on concepts and provides 150 illustrations of graphs and figures, not to mention all the calculations themselves, to show how calculus was actually done and advanced over the years. This is still a book recommended for those teaching calculus and for those teaching, or simply interested in, the history of mathematics. This copy is in excellent condition, with only a little shelf wear on the corners and edges of the covers and spine to differentiate it from an "as new" copy there is no sun damage or fading on the spine, for example. The text block is tight and square and there are no marking, folds, or tears on the pages. The hinges are solid and in good condition. See our photos for further reference.

Seller Inventory # 514

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Historical Development of the Calculus
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc, New York
• Publication Date: 1979
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0387904360
• ISBN 13: 9780387904368
• Binding: Hardback
• Edition: First.
• Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Other Academic/Professional

About this title

Synopsis

The calculus has served for three centuries as the principal quantitative language of Western science. In the course of its genesis and evolution some of the most fundamental problems of mathematics were first con­ fronted and, through the persistent labors of successive generations, finally resolved. Therefore, the historical development of the calculus holds a special interest for anyone who appreciates the value of a historical perspective in teaching, learning, and enjoying mathematics and its ap­ plications. My goal in writing this book was to present an account of this development that is accessible, not solely to students of the history of mathematics, but to the wider mathematical community for which my exposition is more specifically intended, including those who study, teach, and use calculus. The scope of this account can be delineated partly by comparison with previous works in the same general area. M. E. Baron's The Origins of the Infinitesimal Calculus (1969) provides an informative and reliable treat­ ment of the precalculus period up to, but not including (in any detail), the time of Newton and Leibniz, just when the interest and pace of the story begin to quicken and intensify. C. B. Boyer's well-known book (1949, 1959 reprint) met well the goals its author set for it, but it was more ap­ propriately titled in its original edition-The Concepts of the Calculus­ than in its reprinting.