In Pursuit of the Unknown

Ian Stewart is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick and an active researcher. He also visits the University of Houston, the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications in Minneapolis, and the Santa Fe Institute on a regular basis. His work has appeared in New Scientist, Discover, Scientific American, and other publications in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Most people are familiar with the famous equations of history, such as Newton's Law of Gravity or Einstein's Theory of Relativity. However, the impact of these mathematical advances on human progress is hardly recognized. In Pursuit of the Unknown, renowned mathematician Ian Stewart untangles the foundations of our most important mathematical claims, demonstrating that equations have long been a driving force behind practically every aspect of our existence.

Stewart shows how mathematical discoveries enabled many of the advances we now take for granted, including the Wave Equation, which allowed engineers to measure a building's response to earthquakes, saving countless lives, and the Black-Scholes model, which bankers use to track the price of financial derivatives over time.

In Pursuit of the Unknown is a perceptive exploration of how we have used equations to make sense of, and thus influence, our world. It is an approachable, lively, and informative guide to the mathematical building blocks of modern life.

Author: Ian Stewart

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465085989

Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars (from 455 reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #170,974 in Books

#30 in Waves & Wave Mechanics (Books)

#66 in Computing Industry History

#84 in Calculus (Books)