Mathematics for Everyman

Many people suffer from an inferiority complex where mathematics is concerned, regarding figures and equations with a fear based on bewilderment and inexperience. This book dispels some of the subject's alarming aspects, starting at the very beginning and assuming no mathematical education.Written in a witty and engaging style, the text contains an illustrative example for every point, as well as absorbing glimpses into mathematical history and philosophy. Topics include the system of tens and other number systems; symbols and commands; first steps in algebra and algebraic notation; common fractions and equations; irrational numbers; algebraic functions; analytical geometry; differentials and integrals; the binomial theorem; maxima and minima; logarithms; and much more. Upon reaching the conclusion, readers will possess the fundamentals of mathematical operations, and will undoubtedly appreciate the compelling magic behind a subject they once dreaded.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTENOTE ON THE AUTHORAUTHOR'S PREFACEI. NUMBERSII. THE SYSTEM OF TENSIII. OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSIV. SYMBOLS AND COMMANDSV. ARRANGEMENTVI. PERMUTATIONVII. COMBINATIONVIII. OTHER KINDS OF ARRANGEMENTIX. FIRST STEPS IN ALGEBRAX. ALGEBRAIC NOTATIONXI. THE SIMPLER OPERATIONS OF ALGEBRAXII. COMMON FRACTIONSXIII. EQUATIONSXIV. INDETERMINATE EQUATIONSXV. NEGATIVE AND FRACTIONAL POWERSXVI. IRRATIONAL NUMBERSXVII. GENERALISED DECIMAL FRACTIONSXVIII. ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONSXIX. THE THEOREM OF PYTHAGORASXX. FUNCTIONS OF ANGLESXXI. IMAGINARY AND COMPLEX NUMBERSXXII. CO-ORIDINATESXXIII. ANALYTICAL GEOMETRYXXIV. SQUARING THE CIRCLEXXV. CALCULATING THE LENGTHS OF CURVESXXVI. DIFFERENTIALS AND INTEGRALSXXVII. THREE KINDS OF SMALLNESSXXVIII. THE BINOMIAL THEOREMXXIX. ARCHIMEDES' QUADRATURE OF THE PARABOLAXXX. SERIESXXXI. THE TECHNIQUE OF DIFFERENTIATIONXXXII. MAXIMA AND MINIMAXXXIII. THE TECHNIQUE OF INTEGRATIONXXXIV. MEAN VALUE AND DEFINITE INTEGRALSXXXVI. LOGARITHMSXXXVII. "INTERPOLATION, EXTRAPOLATION, CONCLUSION" ERRATA