Math through the Ages (Maa Textbooks)

Where did math come from? Who thought up all those algebra symbols, and why? What's the story behind ... negative numbers? ... the metric system? ... quadratic equations? ... sine and cosine? The 25 independent sketches in Math through the Ages answer these questions and many others in an informal, easygoing style that's accessible to teachers, students, and anyone who is curious about the history of mathematical ideas. Each sketch contains Questions and Projects to help you learn more about its topic and to see how its main ideas fit into the bigger picture of history. The 25 short stories are preceded by a 56-page bird's-eye overview of the entire panorama of mathematical history, a whirlwind tour of the most important people, events, and trends that shaped the mathematics we know today. Reading suggestions after each sketch provide starting points for readers who want to pursue a topic further.

• Journey through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics
• Contemporary Abstract Algebra
• A History of Mathematics Education during the Twentieth Century
• Success from the Start: Your First Years Teaching Secondary Mathematics
• Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All
• The Story of Science: Einstein Adds a New Dimension
• The Puzzle Universe: A History of Mathematics in 315 Puzzles
• Journey Through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics
• Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea
• Introduction to Analysis (Textbooks in Mathematics)