Jost Bürgi's Aritmetische und Geometrische Progreß Tabulen (1620)

Edition and Commentary

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Mathematics, History, Reference & Language, Education & Teaching, Teaching, Teaching Methods
Cover of the book Jost Bürgi's Aritmetische und Geometrische Progreß Tabulen (1620) by Kathleen Clark, Springer New York
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kathleen Clark ISBN: 9781493931613
Publisher: Springer New York Publication: December 28, 2015
Imprint: Birkhäuser Language: English
Author: Kathleen Clark
ISBN: 9781493931613
Publisher: Springer New York
Publication: December 28, 2015
Imprint: Birkhäuser
Language: English

This monograph presents a groundbreaking scholarly treatment of the German mathematician Jost Bürgi’s original work on logarithms, Arithmetische und Geometrische Progreß Tabulen.  It provides the first-ever English translation of Bürgi’s text and illuminates his role in the development of the conception of logarithms, for which John Napier is traditionally given priority.  High-resolution scans of each page of the his handwritten text are reproduced for the reader and as a means of preserving an important work for which there are very few surviving copies.

The book begins with a brief biography of Bürgi to familiarize readers with his life and work, as well as to offer an historical context in which to explore his contributions.  The second chapter then describes the extant copies of the Arithmetische und Geometrische Progreß Tabulen, with a detailed description of the copy that is the focus of this book, the 1620 “Graz manuscript”.  A complete facsimile of the text is included in the next chapter, along with a corresponding transcription and an English translation; a transcription of a second version of the manuscript (the “Gdansk manuscript”) is included alongside that of the Graz edition so that readers can easily and closely examine the differences between the two.  The final chapter considers two important questions about Bürgi’s work, such as who was the copyist of the Graz manuscript and what the relationship is between the Graz and Gdansk versions.  Appendices are also included that contain a timeline of Bürgi’s life, the underlying concept of Napier’s construction of logarithms, and scans of all 58 sheets of the tables from Bürgi’s text.

Anyone with an appreciation for the history of mathematics will find this book to be an insightful and interesting look at an important and often overlooked work.  It will also be a valuable resource for undergraduates taking courses in the history of mathematics, researchers of the history of mathematics, and professors of mathematics education who wish to incorporate historical context into their teaching. 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This monograph presents a groundbreaking scholarly treatment of the German mathematician Jost Bürgi’s original work on logarithms, Arithmetische und Geometrische Progreß Tabulen.  It provides the first-ever English translation of Bürgi’s text and illuminates his role in the development of the conception of logarithms, for which John Napier is traditionally given priority.  High-resolution scans of each page of the his handwritten text are reproduced for the reader and as a means of preserving an important work for which there are very few surviving copies.

The book begins with a brief biography of Bürgi to familiarize readers with his life and work, as well as to offer an historical context in which to explore his contributions.  The second chapter then describes the extant copies of the Arithmetische und Geometrische Progreß Tabulen, with a detailed description of the copy that is the focus of this book, the 1620 “Graz manuscript”.  A complete facsimile of the text is included in the next chapter, along with a corresponding transcription and an English translation; a transcription of a second version of the manuscript (the “Gdansk manuscript”) is included alongside that of the Graz edition so that readers can easily and closely examine the differences between the two.  The final chapter considers two important questions about Bürgi’s work, such as who was the copyist of the Graz manuscript and what the relationship is between the Graz and Gdansk versions.  Appendices are also included that contain a timeline of Bürgi’s life, the underlying concept of Napier’s construction of logarithms, and scans of all 58 sheets of the tables from Bürgi’s text.

Anyone with an appreciation for the history of mathematics will find this book to be an insightful and interesting look at an important and often overlooked work.  It will also be a valuable resource for undergraduates taking courses in the history of mathematics, researchers of the history of mathematics, and professors of mathematics education who wish to incorporate historical context into their teaching. 

More books from Springer New York

Cover of the book Advances in Interdisciplinary Mathematical Research by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Cluster Analysis in Neuropsychological Research by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Software Tools and Algorithms for Biological Systems by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Measuring E-government Efficiency by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Internationalizing the Psychology Curriculum in the United States by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Automotive Radar Sensors in Silicon Technologies by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Imaging Brain Function With EEG by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Secure Cloud Computing by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book South Asian Mammals by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Primary Care Sleep Medicine by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Mathematical Methods in Robust Control of Linear Stochastic Systems by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Skin Manifestations in Rheumatic Disease by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Epigenetics and Complex Traits by Kathleen Clark
Cover of the book Geometry, Mechanics, and Dynamics by Kathleen Clark
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy