Tell about history of Mathematics ?

Second, when undergraduate students first study mathematical analysis (sometimes described as ‘calculus done properly’),

they often find it difficult to see the need for introducing the particular technicalities involved (such as ‘epsilons and deltas’).

Looking at the original works of such mathematicians as D’Alembert, Cauchy, and Bolzano, helps us to understand how and why this particular approach arose

Other reasons for studying original sources are that they’re fun to try to sort out, and that they provide contextual interest for students learning the material in their mathematics courses

Jackie Stedall’s source book, ‘Mathematics Emerging’, in particular, reproduces the original works as they first appeared, followed by a translation into English (where needed) and a commentary.

Charles Dodgson is better known as ‘Lewis Carroll’ the author of the ‘Alice’ books, and also as one of the best photographers of the Victorian era than as a mathematician.

Oxford. as I explain in my book Lewis Carroll in Numberland, which written for a general audience and is one of the books I’ve most enjoyed writing

Dodgson’s mathematical work covers several different areas.

spending much of his time in teaching it to undergraduates and championing it in his popular book Euclid and his Modern Rivals.

Dodgson was also keen on algebra, writing an innovative book on the theory of determinants,

and one of his main ideas has become a topic of current research.

He always enjoyed introducing his ideas on symbolic logic to adults and children alike

And he was a pioneer in the theory of voting, on which he made substantial contributions which we would do well to adopt today.

A supporter of proportional representation, he illustrated the deficiencies in our first-past-the-post and other voting systems, and his studies would have usefully informed the ‘alternative vote’ discussions in Britain a few years ago

His mathematical work in all of these areas is the basis of a multi-authored volume which I’m currently in the process of editing.

I chose this book of Mathematical Pamphlets because it includes a wide range of his mathematical writings and gives one a good idea of his approach to the subject. It is also a fun book to dip into!

I first came across this book more than fifty years ago when I was still at school.

It introduced me to a world of ‘fun’ mathematics, such as the different types of tessellation (tiling), the nets for making polyhedra, the sketching of interesting curves, and much else besides.

It proved particularly valuable when I had to organise speech-day mathematical exhibitions for the visiting school parents

Even now, I sometimes go back and re-read it just for fun – and if mathematics isn’t fun, then it’s not worth doing!

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