Английская Википедия:In Pursuit of the Unknown
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox book
In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World is a 2012 nonfiction book by British mathematician Ian Stewart Шаблон:Post-nominals, published by Basic Books.[1] In the book Stewart traced a history of the role of mathematics in human history, beginning with the Pythagorean theorem (Pythagorean equation)[2] to the equation that transformed the twenty-first century financial market, the Black–Scholes model.
Content
Seventeen equations are described in the book as follows:[3]
| # | Equation name | Equation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pythagorean theorem | <math>a^2 + b^2 = c^2</math> |
| 2 | Logarithms (logarithm product identity) | <math>\log{xy} = \log{x} + \log{y}</math> |
| 3 | Calculus (definition of the derivative) | <math>\frac{\mathrm df}{\mathrm dt} = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(t+h)-f(t)}h </math> |
| 4 | Newton's law of gravity | <math>F = G\frac{m_1 m_2}{d^2} </math> |
| 5 | Square root of minus one | <math>\mathrm{i}^2 = -1 </math> |
| 6 | Euler's formula for polyhedra | <math>F-E+V= 2 </math> |
| 7 | Normal distribution | <math>
\mathbf{\Phi}(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi\sigma^2}} \mathrm{e}^{-\frac{(x-\mu)^2}{2\sigma^2}} </math> |
| 8 | Wave equation (one dimensional) | <math>
\frac{ \partial^2 u}{\partial t^2 } = c^2 \frac{ \partial^2 u}{\partial x^2 } </math> |
| 9 | Fourier transform | <math>
\hat{f}(\xi) = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x)\ e^{-2\pi \mathrm{i} x \xi}\mathrm{d}x </math> |
| 10 | Navier–Stokes equations (for conservation of momentum) | <math>
\rho \left(\frac{\partial \mathbf{v}}{\partial t} + \mathbf{v} \cdot \nabla \mathbf{v}\right) = - \nabla p + \nabla \cdot \mathbf{T} + \mathbf{f} </math> |
| 11 | Maxwell's equations (in vacuum, in Gaussian units) | <math>\nabla \cdot \mathbf{E} = 0\,;</math> <math>\nabla \cdot \mathbf{H} = 0\,;</math> <math>\nabla \times \mathbf{E} = -\frac{1}{c}\frac{\partial \mathbf{H}} {\partial t}\, ;</math> <math>\nabla \times \mathbf{H} = \frac1c \frac{\partial \mathbf{E}} {\partial t} \,. </math> |
| 12 | Second law of thermodynamics | <math>\mathrm{d}S \geq 0 </math> |
| 13 | Relativity (Mass–energy equivalence) | <math>E = mc^2 </math> |
| 14 | Schrödinger equation | <math>i \hbar \frac{\partial}{\partial t} \Psi = \hat{H}\Psi </math> |
| 15 | Information theory (Shannon entropy) | <math>H = - \sum_x p(x) \log p(x)</math> |
| 16 | Chaos theory (logistic map) | <math>x_{t+1} = k x_t \left(1-x_t\right) </math> |
| 17 | Black–Scholes equation | <math>\frac{1}{2}\sigma^2 S^2 \frac{\partial^2 V}{\partial S^2} + rS\frac{\partial V}{\partial S} + \frac{\partial V}{\partial t} - rV = 0</math> |
Reviews
Kirkus Reviews said that the book provided "clear, cogent explanations of how the equations work without burdening the reader with cumbersome derivations."[4]
The Maclean's magazine review described the book as a "history of the human species told in equations" by the "finest living math popularizer".[5]
The New York Book Review said that Stewart was a "genius in the way he conveys his excitement and sense of wonder across" who has a "valuable grasp" of "what it takes to make equations interesting" and "to make science cool."[6]
The Physics Today journal review said that Stewart writes with "easy prose, which never fails to both educate and entertain."[7]
Business Insider described the book as an "excellent and deeply researched book."[3]
The Association for Computing Machinery's SIGACT News review called the book, the "latest spell" by the "master storyteller", the "Honorary Wizard of the Unseen University"—the "master storyteller"—who is able to "entertain" the reader with Greek symbols.[8]Шаблон:Rp The reviewer said Stewart focused on how equations have changed the world, as new equations gave "birth to new branches of science". Stewart provides the "historical background" to explain "how the equation was anticipated", how people then "generalized the ideas and formalized the results". He highlights the ways in which these equations continue to influence our lives in the twenty-first century.[8]Шаблон:Rp
The review in Notices of the American Mathematical Society journal, described Stewart as an "experienced writer" whose intended audience is the "general literate reader"—not mathematicians. The reviewer, a mathematician, said that Stewart was "generally successful in getting the essential points across in a nontechnical way without too much distortion. However, he personally would have preferred a less "discursive style" but acknowledged that Stewart's writing was appropriate for his intended audience.[9]
Themes
In 17 Equations, Stewart described how the Black-Scholes equation provided the "mathematical justification for the trading"—and therefore—"one ingredient in a rich stew of financial irresponsibility, political ineptitude, perverse incentives and lax regulation" that contributed to the financial crisis of 2007–08.[10] He clarified that "the equation itself wasn't the real problem", but its abuse in the financial industry.[10]
See also
References
