Most Elegant Equation: Euler's Formula and the Beauty of Mathematics (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780465093779)

An award-winning science writer introduces us to mathematics using the extraordinary equation that unites five of mathematics' most important numbers

Bertrand Russell wrote that mathematics can exalt "as surely as poetry." This is especially true of one equation: ei(pi) + 1 = 0, the brainchild of Leonhard Euler, the Mozart of mathematics. More than two centuries after Euler's death, it is still regarded as a conceptual diamond of unsurpassed beauty. Called Euler's identity or God's equation, it includes just five numbers but represents an astonishing revelation of hidden connections. It ties together everything from basic arithmetic to compound interest, the circumference of a circle, trigonometry, calculus, and even infinity. In David Stipp's hands, Euler's identity formula becomes a contemplative stroll through the glories of mathematics. The result is an ode to this magical field.

Author: David Stipp
ISBN-10: 0465093779
ISBN-13: 9780465093779
Publisher: Basic Books
Language: English
Published: 11/07/2017
Pages: 240
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.79lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.60w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 06/01/2018