Ian Stewart

Extensions Solving Equations of Degree Four or Less Finite Fields Structure of Finite Fields The Multiplicative Group Application to Solitaire Regular Polygons What Euclid Knew Which Constructions Are Possible Regular Polygons Fermat Numbers How to Draw a Regular 17-gon Circle Division Genuine Radicals Fifth Roots Revisited Vandermonde Revisited The General Case Cyclotomic Polynomials Galois Group of Q([zeta]) : Q The Technical Lemma More on Cyclotomic...

Life is full of uncertainty-- indeed, scientific advances indicate that the universe might be fundamentally inexact-- and humans are terrible at guessing. Stewart reveals that, over the course of history, mathematics has given us some of the tools we need to better manage the uncertainty that pervades our lives. From forecasting, to medical research, to figuring out how to win Let's Make a Deal, he provides a tour of what we can know, and what we...

In In Pursuit of the Unknown, celebrated mathematician Ian Stewart uses a handful of mathematical equations to explore the vitally important connections between math and human progress. We often overlook the historical link between mathematics and technological advances, says Stewart--but this connection is integral to any complete understanding of human history. Equations are modeled on the patterns we find in the world around us, says Stewart, and...