The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved : How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry (Hardcover)

from nbmars

In Chapter One, Mario Livio promises to open our eyes to the magic of symmetry through the language of mathematics. To do so, he first acquaints us with group theory of modern algebra. A group is any collection of elements (they need not be numbers) that have the properties of (1) closure, (2) as...

from gregfromgilbert

First 5 chapters give a general history of mathematics centered around the solution to the quintic. It took a proof based on group theory to show it couldn't be solved using basic operations. In depth focus on Abel and Galois. Chapters 6-8 much more interesting and includes a nice discussion of g...

from jefware

While the concept of symmetry is fascinating I think that it's application to particle physics may be like applying circles to planetary motions. Nature just isn't symmetric. This book includes a great history of the mathematics of Group Theory.

from jefware

While the concept of symmetry is fascinating I think that it's application to particle physics may be like applying circles to planetary motions. Nature just isn't symmetric. This book includes a great history of the mathematics of Group Theory.

from shushokan

This book would make a good biography of Abel and Galois but is really a book about maths and not a maths book (if you can see the distinction). We get the intimate details of the two mathematicians' lives but their actual discoveries seem to be an addendum to the book as a whole. If you want a p...