The Life and Works of John Napier

The Life and Works of John Napier

Author: Brian Rice

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-03-09

Total Pages: 994

ISBN-13: 3319532820

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

For the first time, all five of John Napier’s works have been brought together in English in a single volume, making them more accessible than ever before. His four mathematical works were originally published in Latin: two in his lifetime (1550–1617), one shortly after he died, and one over 200 years later. The authors have prepared three introductory chapters, one covering Napier himself, one his mathematical works, and one his religious work. The former has been prepared by one of Napier’s descendants and contains many new findings about Napier’s life to provide the most complete biography of this enigmatic character, whose reputation has previously been overshadowed by rumour and speculation. The latter has been written by an academic who was awarded a PhD for his thesis on Napier at the University of Edinburgh, and it provides the most lucid and coherent coverage available of this abstruse and little understood work. The chapter on Napier’s mathematical texts has been authored by an experienced and respected academic, whose recent works have specialised in the history of mathematics and whose Journey through Mathematics was selected in March of 2012 as an Outstanding Title in Mathematics by Choice magazine, a publication of the American Library Association. All three authors have revisited the primary sources extensively and deliver new insights about Napier and his works, whilst revising the many myths and assumptions that surround his life and character.


Book Synopsis The Life and Works of John Napier by : Brian Rice

Download or read book The Life and Works of John Napier written by Brian Rice and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-03-09 with total page 994 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For the first time, all five of John Napier’s works have been brought together in English in a single volume, making them more accessible than ever before. His four mathematical works were originally published in Latin: two in his lifetime (1550–1617), one shortly after he died, and one over 200 years later. The authors have prepared three introductory chapters, one covering Napier himself, one his mathematical works, and one his religious work. The former has been prepared by one of Napier’s descendants and contains many new findings about Napier’s life to provide the most complete biography of this enigmatic character, whose reputation has previously been overshadowed by rumour and speculation. The latter has been written by an academic who was awarded a PhD for his thesis on Napier at the University of Edinburgh, and it provides the most lucid and coherent coverage available of this abstruse and little understood work. The chapter on Napier’s mathematical texts has been authored by an experienced and respected academic, whose recent works have specialised in the history of mathematics and whose Journey through Mathematics was selected in March of 2012 as an Outstanding Title in Mathematics by Choice magazine, a publication of the American Library Association. All three authors have revisited the primary sources extensively and deliver new insights about Napier and his works, whilst revising the many myths and assumptions that surround his life and character.


John Napier

John Napier

Author: Julian Havil

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2014-10-05

Total Pages: 297

ISBN-13: 1400852188

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The most comprehensive account of the mathematician's life and work John Napier (1550–1617) is celebrated today as the man who invented logarithms—an enormous intellectual achievement that would soon lead to the development of their mechanical equivalent in the slide rule: the two would serve humanity as the principal means of calculation until the mid-1970s. Yet, despite Napier's pioneering efforts, his life and work have not attracted detailed modern scrutiny. John Napier is the first contemporary biography to take an in-depth look at the multiple facets of Napier’s story: his privileged position as the eighth Laird of Merchiston and the son of influential Scottish landowners; his reputation as a magician who dabbled in alchemy; his interest in agriculture; his involvement with a notorious outlaw; his staunch anti-Catholic beliefs; his interactions with such peers as Henry Briggs, Johannes Kepler, and Tycho Brahe; and, most notably, his estimable mathematical legacy. Julian Havil explores Napier’s original development of logarithms, the motivations for his approach, and the reasons behind certain adjustments to them. Napier’s inventive mathematical ideas also include formulas for solving spherical triangles, "Napier’s Bones" (a more basic but extremely popular alternative device for calculation), and the use of decimal notation for fractions and binary arithmetic. Havil also considers Napier’s study of the Book of Revelation, which led to his prediction of the Apocalypse in his first book, A Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John—the work for which Napier believed he would be most remembered. John Napier assesses one man’s life and the lasting influence of his advancements on the mathematical sciences and beyond.


Book Synopsis John Napier by : Julian Havil

Download or read book John Napier written by Julian Havil and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2014-10-05 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The most comprehensive account of the mathematician's life and work John Napier (1550–1617) is celebrated today as the man who invented logarithms—an enormous intellectual achievement that would soon lead to the development of their mechanical equivalent in the slide rule: the two would serve humanity as the principal means of calculation until the mid-1970s. Yet, despite Napier's pioneering efforts, his life and work have not attracted detailed modern scrutiny. John Napier is the first contemporary biography to take an in-depth look at the multiple facets of Napier’s story: his privileged position as the eighth Laird of Merchiston and the son of influential Scottish landowners; his reputation as a magician who dabbled in alchemy; his interest in agriculture; his involvement with a notorious outlaw; his staunch anti-Catholic beliefs; his interactions with such peers as Henry Briggs, Johannes Kepler, and Tycho Brahe; and, most notably, his estimable mathematical legacy. Julian Havil explores Napier’s original development of logarithms, the motivations for his approach, and the reasons behind certain adjustments to them. Napier’s inventive mathematical ideas also include formulas for solving spherical triangles, "Napier’s Bones" (a more basic but extremely popular alternative device for calculation), and the use of decimal notation for fractions and binary arithmetic. Havil also considers Napier’s study of the Book of Revelation, which led to his prediction of the Apocalypse in his first book, A Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John—the work for which Napier believed he would be most remembered. John Napier assesses one man’s life and the lasting influence of his advancements on the mathematical sciences and beyond.


John Napier

John Napier

Author:

Publisher: CUP Archive

Published:

Total Pages: 60

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Presents a biographical sketch of Scottish mathematician John Napier (1550-1617), compiled as part of the MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland. Highlights Naimark's work on logarithms.


Book Synopsis John Napier by :

Download or read book John Napier written by and published by CUP Archive. This book was released on with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a biographical sketch of Scottish mathematician John Napier (1550-1617), compiled as part of the MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland. Highlights Naimark's work on logarithms.


Memoirs of John Napier of Merchiston

Memoirs of John Napier of Merchiston

Author: Mark Napier

Publisher:

Published: 1834

Total Pages: 594

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Memoirs of John Napier of Merchiston by : Mark Napier

Download or read book Memoirs of John Napier of Merchiston written by Mark Napier and published by . This book was released on 1834 with total page 594 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


John Napier and the Invention of Logarithms, 1614

John Napier and the Invention of Logarithms, 1614

Author: E. W. Hobson

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2012-03-29

Total Pages: 53

ISBN-13: 1107624509

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Originally published in 1914, this volume was created to mark the tercentenary of John Napier's Mirifici Logarithmorum Canonis Descriptio. Written by the prominent English mathematician Ernest William Hobson, the text provides a highly readable introduction to the theory of logarithms and puts their discovery within a historical context. Illustrations are also included. This is a concise and accessible book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in logarithms and the history of mathematics.


Book Synopsis John Napier and the Invention of Logarithms, 1614 by : E. W. Hobson

Download or read book John Napier and the Invention of Logarithms, 1614 written by E. W. Hobson and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-03-29 with total page 53 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published in 1914, this volume was created to mark the tercentenary of John Napier's Mirifici Logarithmorum Canonis Descriptio. Written by the prominent English mathematician Ernest William Hobson, the text provides a highly readable introduction to the theory of logarithms and puts their discovery within a historical context. Illustrations are also included. This is a concise and accessible book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in logarithms and the history of mathematics.


Curves for the Mathematically Curious

Curves for the Mathematically Curious

Author: Julian Havil

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-11-02

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 0691206139

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Ten amazing curves personally selected by one of today's most important math writers Curves for the Mathematically Curious is a thoughtfully curated collection of ten mathematical curves, selected by Julian Havil for their significance, mathematical interest, and beauty. Each chapter gives an account of the history and definition of one curve, providing a glimpse into the elegant and often surprising mathematics involved in its creation and evolution. In telling the ten stories, Havil introduces many mathematicians and other innovators, some whose fame has withstood the passing of years and others who have slipped into comparative obscurity. You will meet Pierre Bézier, who is known for his ubiquitous and eponymous curves, and Adolphe Quetelet, who trumpeted the ubiquity of the normal curve but whose name now hides behind the modern body mass index. These and other ingenious thinkers engaged with the challenges, incongruities, and insights to be found in these remarkable curves—and now you can share in this adventure. Curves for the Mathematically Curious is a rigorous and enriching mathematical experience for anyone interested in curves, and the book is designed so that readers who choose can follow the details with pencil and paper. Every curve has a story worth telling.


Book Synopsis Curves for the Mathematically Curious by : Julian Havil

Download or read book Curves for the Mathematically Curious written by Julian Havil and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2021-11-02 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ten amazing curves personally selected by one of today's most important math writers Curves for the Mathematically Curious is a thoughtfully curated collection of ten mathematical curves, selected by Julian Havil for their significance, mathematical interest, and beauty. Each chapter gives an account of the history and definition of one curve, providing a glimpse into the elegant and often surprising mathematics involved in its creation and evolution. In telling the ten stories, Havil introduces many mathematicians and other innovators, some whose fame has withstood the passing of years and others who have slipped into comparative obscurity. You will meet Pierre Bézier, who is known for his ubiquitous and eponymous curves, and Adolphe Quetelet, who trumpeted the ubiquity of the normal curve but whose name now hides behind the modern body mass index. These and other ingenious thinkers engaged with the challenges, incongruities, and insights to be found in these remarkable curves—and now you can share in this adventure. Curves for the Mathematically Curious is a rigorous and enriching mathematical experience for anyone interested in curves, and the book is designed so that readers who choose can follow the details with pencil and paper. Every curve has a story worth telling.


The Construction of the Wonderful Canon of Logarithms

The Construction of the Wonderful Canon of Logarithms

Author: John Napier

Publisher:

Published: 1889

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis The Construction of the Wonderful Canon of Logarithms by : John Napier

Download or read book The Construction of the Wonderful Canon of Logarithms written by John Napier and published by . This book was released on 1889 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Bigfoot

Bigfoot

Author: John Russell Napier

Publisher: Newton Abbot : Readers Union

Published: 1974

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 9781981553587

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Abominable Snowman is one of the most popular monsters in modern mythology. Like that other favorite, the Loch Ness Monster, the Yeti (or Bigfoot or Sasquatch) gained worldwide publicity through a photograph - the sharp, unmistakable picture of a huge footprint in the snow, taken in 1951 by Eric Shipton of the Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. Additionally, in 1967, a rare film of the creature was shot in Northern California by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, which catapulted the apeman to even greater fame.The aim of this book, by a well-known anthropologist who has been interested in the monster phenomenon for twenty years, is to disentangle the rational from the irrational, the legend from the living animal.Whether Bigfoot is an idea or an animal, says John Napier, he plays an important cultural role - as a stabilizing force in primitive societies, and as an essential source of mystery in the sophisticated West. His book is the most thorough scrutiny yet of the Sasquatch. He presents a wealth of fascinating evidence, both verbal and visual; the conclusions he leaves to the reader.


Book Synopsis Bigfoot by : John Russell Napier

Download or read book Bigfoot written by John Russell Napier and published by Newton Abbot : Readers Union. This book was released on 1974 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Abominable Snowman is one of the most popular monsters in modern mythology. Like that other favorite, the Loch Ness Monster, the Yeti (or Bigfoot or Sasquatch) gained worldwide publicity through a photograph - the sharp, unmistakable picture of a huge footprint in the snow, taken in 1951 by Eric Shipton of the Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. Additionally, in 1967, a rare film of the creature was shot in Northern California by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, which catapulted the apeman to even greater fame.The aim of this book, by a well-known anthropologist who has been interested in the monster phenomenon for twenty years, is to disentangle the rational from the irrational, the legend from the living animal.Whether Bigfoot is an idea or an animal, says John Napier, he plays an important cultural role - as a stabilizing force in primitive societies, and as an essential source of mystery in the sophisticated West. His book is the most thorough scrutiny yet of the Sasquatch. He presents a wealth of fascinating evidence, both verbal and visual; the conclusions he leaves to the reader.


Not Just Batman's Butler

Not Just Batman's Butler

Author: Alan Napier

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2015-10-08

Total Pages: 393

ISBN-13: 1476662878

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In January 1966, Alan Napier became a household name on ABC's hit series Batman (1966-1968) as Alfred Pennyworth, loyal butler to the show's title character. This "overnight success" came after 16 years of stage work (and the occasional film) in his native England and 26 years of film and television work (and the occasional play) in the United States. In the early 1970s, Napier wrote an autobiography, detailing his childhood as a "poor relation" of the famous Birmingham political family the Chamberlains (Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was a cousin), and his collaborations over the years with the likes of John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward, Fritz Lang, Otto Preminger and Alfred Hitchcock. Almost 30 years after Napier's death, James Bigwood, who first read the manuscript in 1975 when interviewing the actor for a Films in Review profile, has prepared it for publication. This is Alan Napier's story in his own words, annotated and updated, with dozens of rare photographs.


Book Synopsis Not Just Batman's Butler by : Alan Napier

Download or read book Not Just Batman's Butler written by Alan Napier and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2015-10-08 with total page 393 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In January 1966, Alan Napier became a household name on ABC's hit series Batman (1966-1968) as Alfred Pennyworth, loyal butler to the show's title character. This "overnight success" came after 16 years of stage work (and the occasional film) in his native England and 26 years of film and television work (and the occasional play) in the United States. In the early 1970s, Napier wrote an autobiography, detailing his childhood as a "poor relation" of the famous Birmingham political family the Chamberlains (Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was a cousin), and his collaborations over the years with the likes of John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward, Fritz Lang, Otto Preminger and Alfred Hitchcock. Almost 30 years after Napier's death, James Bigwood, who first read the manuscript in 1975 when interviewing the actor for a Films in Review profile, has prepared it for publication. This is Alan Napier's story in his own words, annotated and updated, with dozens of rare photographs.


Life of Robert Napier of West Shandon

Life of Robert Napier of West Shandon

Author: James Napier

Publisher:

Published: 1904

Total Pages: 376

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Life of Robert Napier of West Shandon by : James Napier

Download or read book Life of Robert Napier of West Shandon written by James Napier and published by . This book was released on 1904 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: