On 2001-08-02 M. Bennett, Sunnyvale, CA USA wrote: I had been looking for a concise reference for reading modern mathematical and engineering texts. This book is too broad to serve that purpose.
It does do a very thorough job looking at ancient mathematical notation. How the Romans counted, how the Greeks counted, how the Hebrews counted, for example. And it doesn´t stop there, it talks about how each civilization changed over time, etc. If you like the History Channel, and you like Math, you´ll probably love this book.
I´m still in search of a modern, concise reference for math notations.. And summed up by saying Not quite what I expected, but interesting and thorough. Currently A History of Mathematical Notations: Vol. I has an overall rating of 8 over 10.
A History of Mathematical Notations: Vol. I can also be found in the following searches:
Cosimo Classics claimed Described even today as ´unsurpassed,´ this history of mathematical notation stretching back to the Babylonians and Egyptians is one of the most comprehensive written. In two impressive volumes--first published in 1928-9--distinguished mathematician Florian Cajori shows the origin, evolution, and dissemination of each symbol and the competition it faced in its rise to popularity or fall into obscurity. Illustrated with more than a hundred diagrams and figures, this ´mirror of past and present conditions in mathematics´ will give students and historians a whole new appreciation for ´1 + 1 = 2.´ Swiss-American author, educator, and mathematician FLORIAN CAJORI (1859-1930) was one of the world´s most distinguished mathematical historians. Appointed to a specially created chair in the history of mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley, he also wrote An Introduction to the Theory of Equations, A History of Elementary Mathematics, and The Chequered Career of Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler.
Item that are similar to A History of Mathematical Notations: Vol. I can be found at: