Title
A History of Vector Analysis: The Evolution of the Idea of a Vectorial System (Dover Books on Mathematics),Used
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On October 16, 1843, Sir William Rowan Hamilton discovered quaternions and, on the very same day, presented his breakthrough to the Royal Irish Academy. Meanwhile, in a less dramatic style, a German high school teacher, Hermann Grassmann, was developing another vectorial system involving hypercomplex numbers comparable to quaternions. The creations of these two mathematicians led to other vectorial systems, most notably the system of vector analysis formulated by Josiah Willard Gibbs and Oliver Heaviside and now almost universally employed in mathematics, physics and engineering. Yet the GibbsHeaviside system won acceptance only after decades of debate and controversy in the latter half of the nineteenth century concerning which of the competing systems offered the greatest advantages for mathematical pedagogy and practice.This volume, the first largescale study of the development of vectorial systems, traces he rise of the vector concept from the discovery of complex numbers through the systems of hypercomplex numbers created by Hamilton and Grassmann to the final acceptance around 1910 of the modern system of vector analysis. Professor Michael J. Crowe (University of Notre Dame) discusses each major vectorial system as well as the motivations that led to their creation, development, and acceptance or rejection.The vectorial approach revolutionized mathematical methods and teaching in algebra, geometry, and physical science. As Professor Crowe explains, in these areas traditional Cartesian methods were replaced by vectorial approaches. He also presents the history of ideas of vector addition, subtraction, multiplication, division (in those systems where it occurs) and differentiation. His book also contains refreshing portraits of the personalities involved in the competition among the various systems.Teachers, students, and practitioners of mathematics, physics, and engineering as well as anyone interested in the history of scientific ideas will find this volume to be well written, solidly argued, and excellently documented. Reviewers have described it a s "a fascinating volume," "an engaging and penetrating historical study" and "an outstanding book (that) will doubtless long remain the standard work on the subject." In 1992 it won an award for excellence from the Jean Scott Foundation of France.
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- Q: What is the main focus of 'A History of Vector Analysis'? A: The book focuses on the evolution of vectorial systems, particularly the historical development of vector analysis, highlighting key figures like Sir William Rowan Hamilton and Hermann Grassmann.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author is Michael J. Crowe, a professor at the University of Notre Dame.
- Q: What topics are covered in the book? A: The book covers the history of vectorial systems, including vector addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and differentiation, as well as the motivations behind their development.
- Q: Is this book suitable for students and professionals? A: Yes, it's suitable for teachers, students, and practitioners of mathematics, physics, and engineering, as well as anyone interested in the history of scientific ideas.
- Q: How many pages does the book have? A: The book has 270 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: When was this book published? A: The book was published on November 2, 2011.
- Q: What makes this book different from other texts on vector analysis? A: This book is the first large-scale study of the development of vectorial systems, providing a comprehensive historical perspective that is not typically found in traditional textbooks.
- Q: Has this book received any accolades? A: Yes, it won an award for excellence from the Jean Scott Foundation of France in 1992.
- Q: What kind of reviews has the book received? A: Reviewers have described it as 'a fascinating volume' and 'an engaging and penetrating historical study', indicating its quality and depth of research.