Dr. Euler's Fabulous Formula

Cures Many Mathematical Ills

By: Paul J. Nahin

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eBook | 25 April 2011

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416 Pages

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I used to think math was no fun
'Cause I couldn't see how it was done
Now Euler's my hero
For I now see why zero
Equals e^{[pi] i}+1
--Paul Nahin, electrical engineer

In the mid-eighteenth century, Swiss-born mathematician Leonhard Euler developed a formula so innovative and complex that it continues to inspire research, discussion, and even the occasional limerick. Dr. Euler's Fabulous Formula shares the fascinating story of this groundbreaking formula--long regarded as the gold standard for mathematical beauty--and shows why it still lies at the heart of complex number theory.

The Story of I [the square root of -1], which chronicled the events leading up to the discovery of one of mathematics' most elusive numbers, the square root of minus one. Unlike the earlier book, which devoted a significant amount of space to the historical development of complex numbers, Dr. Euler begins with discussions of many sophisticated applications of complex numbers in pure and applied mathematics, and to electronic technology. The topics covered span a huge range, from a never-before-told tale of an encounter between the famous mathematician G. H. Hardy and the physicist Arthur Schuster, to a discussion of the theoretical basis for single-sideband AM radio, to the design of chase-and-escape problems. To mathematicians ten thousand years hence, "Euler's formula will still be beautiful and stunning and untarnished by time."

Industry Reviews

"This is a book for mathematicians who enjoy historically motivated mathematical explanations on a high mathematical level."---Eberhard Knobloch, Mathematical Reviews