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jiayiduu's review
informative
medium-paced
3.5
great start! very informative yet casual and lighthearted, however i found the end a bit slow and verbose, with many repeated concepts
junyan's review
5.0
在對世界的探索中從來不缺女性的身影。
「所有科學領域一樣，在建立數學模型時，我們總要對強調什麽和忽略什麽做出選擇。抽象的藝術在於，知道什麽是必不可少的，什麽是細枝末節的；知道什麽是信號，什麽是噪聲；知道什麽是趨勢，什麽是波動。這是一門藝術，因為諸如此類的選擇總是存在著風險，它們與癡心妄想或學術欺詐只有一線之隔。」
「索菲·柯瓦列夫斯卡婭讓我們認識到，當我們最終勇敢地面對非線性時，這個世界看上去會有多麽不同。她意識到，非線性能限製人類的狂妄自大。如果一個系統是非線性的，它的行為就不可能用公式來預測，即使該行為是完全確定的。換句話說，決定論並不意味著可預測性。雖然陀螺只是一種小孩子的玩意，但它的運動能讓我們在求知時懷有一顆謙遜之心。」
「引力波是人類有史以來聽過的最微弱的耳語。在我們成為靈長類動物之前，在我們成為哺乳動物之前，甚至在我們還是微生物的時候，這種輕柔而微小的波就已經開始朝我們漾來。當它在2015年的那一天抵達地球的時候，因為我們正在傾聽，也因為我們通曉微積分，所以我們才能聽懂這輕柔的耳語意味著什麽。」(how romantic!)
「所有科學領域一樣，在建立數學模型時，我們總要對強調什麽和忽略什麽做出選擇。抽象的藝術在於，知道什麽是必不可少的，什麽是細枝末節的；知道什麽是信號，什麽是噪聲；知道什麽是趨勢，什麽是波動。這是一門藝術，因為諸如此類的選擇總是存在著風險，它們與癡心妄想或學術欺詐只有一線之隔。」
「索菲·柯瓦列夫斯卡婭讓我們認識到，當我們最終勇敢地面對非線性時，這個世界看上去會有多麽不同。她意識到，非線性能限製人類的狂妄自大。如果一個系統是非線性的，它的行為就不可能用公式來預測，即使該行為是完全確定的。換句話說，決定論並不意味著可預測性。雖然陀螺只是一種小孩子的玩意，但它的運動能讓我們在求知時懷有一顆謙遜之心。」
「引力波是人類有史以來聽過的最微弱的耳語。在我們成為靈長類動物之前，在我們成為哺乳動物之前，甚至在我們還是微生物的時候，這種輕柔而微小的波就已經開始朝我們漾來。當它在2015年的那一天抵達地球的時候，因為我們正在傾聽，也因為我們通曉微積分，所以我們才能聽懂這輕柔的耳語意味著什麽。」(how romantic!)
juggernaut's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Very informative. But there are many "stories" in this book than actual mathematics. Compared to his book on numbers, this is less informative and more trivia.
halcyonb's review
4.0
The history of calculus, guided by following its defining principle: the infinity principle, from the ancient Greeks to today.
The infinity principle states a hard problem can be tackled by splitting it into infinitely small parts, solving those parts and them summing them back together.
Archimedes used the IP is on shapes, Galileo on motion and Newton turned it into calculus for predicting anything todo with change.
This book is full of practical examples and historical stories that shows calculus' impact on science and the world.
The infinity principle states a hard problem can be tackled by splitting it into infinitely small parts, solving those parts and them summing them back together.
Archimedes used the IP is on shapes, Galileo on motion and Newton turned it into calculus for predicting anything todo with change.
This book is full of practical examples and historical stories that shows calculus' impact on science and the world.
yash_verma's review against another edition
5.0
The only history book that I liked !! Though it's not entirely history of calculus, it is more like a story that starts with how the foundation of calculus was laid in 16th century to how different parts of calculus (differential and integral) developed to current applications.
A must read for all those who wants to know the real life applications of calculus which by the way are in many fields and all of them are exquisite.
A must read for all those who wants to know the real life applications of calculus which by the way are in many fields and all of them are exquisite.
vincentngo's review
5.0
What an intriguing book! Absolutely a must-read for a student interested in applied Calculus and Mathematics in general.
Not only the book walk you through the technology developments, but also the rich history and big ideas around Calculus. Calculus lore. I also love the great stories of the big figures, my favorites are the stories of Fermat, Descartes, Katherine Johnson, and especially Sophie Germain.
Unlike my initial thought, this book is not a Calculus textbook. I also believe that one must have certain Calculus background to full enjoy the book (great motivation to study math!).
Not only the book walk you through the technology developments, but also the rich history and big ideas around Calculus. Calculus lore. I also love the great stories of the big figures, my favorites are the stories of Fermat, Descartes, Katherine Johnson, and especially Sophie Germain.
Unlike my initial thought, this book is not a Calculus textbook. I also believe that one must have certain Calculus background to full enjoy the book (great motivation to study math!).
kanejim57's review
4.0
While I still do not comprehend calculus (or any math beyond basic algebra) I did like this book. A helpful and fascinating look at this important field of mathematics written in a helpful, witty, and conversational style. Full review to come.
flagstaff's review
5.0
Outstanding. Got this from the public library but just might get a personal copy as it will take several readings to take it all in. In school took the courses on the how to do it, this book explained the why of it.