| Sir William Rowan Hamilton Contributor(s): Hankins, Thomas L. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0801869730 ISBN-13: 9780801869730 Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press OUR PRICE: $38.00 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: June 2004 Annotation: This insightful and painstakingly researched biography details the intriguing life of Sir William Rowan Hamilton, the 19th-century mathematician who changed the course of modern algebra with his discovery of quaternions in 1843. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Biography & Autobiography | Science & Technology - Mathematics | History & Philosophy |
| Dewey: 510.924 |
| Physical Information: 1.21" H x 6.2" W x 9.42" (1.64 lbs) 496 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: One of the most imaginative mathematicians of the nineteenth century, Sir William Rowan Hamilton (1805-1865) changed the course of modern algebra with his discovery of quaternions in 1843. Although Hamilton's work was largely theoretical, his ideas came to have invaluable practical applications with the advent of quantum mechanics in the twentieth century. In this acclaimed biography, Thomas L. Hankins brings together the many aspects of Hamilton's life and work--from his significant contributions to mathematics, optics, and mechanics to his passion for metaphysics, poetry, and politics--fully portraying the brilliant man whose faith and idealism guided him in everything he did. |
Contributor Bio(s): Hankins, Thomas L.: - Thomas L. Hankins is a professor emeritus of the history of science at the University of Washington. |