About the book
At the heart of relativity theory, quantum mechanics, string theory, and much of modern cosmology lies one concept: symmetry. In Why Beauty Is Truth, world-famous mathematician Ian Stewart narrates the history of the emergence of this remarkable area of study. Stewart introduces us to such characters as the Renaissance Italian genius, rogue, scholar, and gambler Girolamo Cardano, who stole the modern method of solving cubic equations and published it in the first important book on algebra, and the young revolutionary Evariste Galois, who refashioned the whole of mathematics and founded the field of group theory only to die in a pointless duel over a woman before his work was published. Stewart also explores the strange numerology of real mathematics, in which particular numbers have unique and unpredictable properties related to symmetry. He shows how Wilhelm Killing discovered \"Lie groups\" with 14, 52, 78, 133, and 248 dimensions-groups whose very existence is a profound puzzle. Finally, Stewart describes the world beyond superstrings: the \"octonionic\" symmetries that may explain the very existence of the universe.
Editions of Why Beauty Is Truth
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780465082360
- EBook
- ISBN 9780465008759
Read an Excerpt
At the heart of relativity theory, quantum mechanics, string theory, and much of modern cosmology lies one concept: symmetry. In Why Beauty Is Truth, world-famous mathematician Ian Stewart narrates the history of the emergence of this remarkable area of study. Stewart introduces us to such characters as the Renaissance Italian genius, rogue, scholar, and gambler Girolamo Cardano, who stole the modern method of solving cubic equations and published it in the first important book on algebra, and the young revolutionary Evariste Galois, who refashioned the whole of mathematics and founded the field of group theory only to die in a pointless duel over a woman before his work was published. Stewart also explores the strange numerology of real mathematics, in which particular numbers have unique and unpredictable properties related to symmetry. He shows how Wilhelm Killing discovered \"Lie groups\" with 14, 52, 78, 133, and 248 dimensions-groups whose very existence is a profound puzzle. Finally, Stewart describes the world beyond superstrings: the \"octonionic\" symmetries that may explain the very existence of the universe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Why Beauty Is Truth about?
At the heart of relativity theory, quantum mechanics, string theory, and much of modern cosmology lies one concept: symmetry. In Why Beauty Is Truth, world-famous mathematician Ian Stewart narrates the history of the emergence of this remarkable area of study. Stewart introduces us to such characters as the Renaissance Italian genius, rogue, scholar, and gambler Girolamo Cardano, who stole the modern method of solving cubic equations and published it in the first important book on algebra, and the young revolutionary Evariste Galois, who refashioned the whole of mathematics and founded the field of group theory only to die in a pointless duel over a woman before his work was published. Stewart also explores the strange numerology of real mathematics, in which particular numbers have unique and unpredictable properties related to symmetry. He shows how Wilhelm Killing discovered \"Lie groups\" with 14, 52, 78, 133, and 248 dimensions-groups whose very existence is a profound puzzle. Finally, Stewart describes the world beyond superstrings: the \"octonionic\" symmetries that may explain the very existence of the universe.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Why Beauty Is Truth?
Mathematics and Science > Biology, life sciences
Where can I read a sample of Why Beauty Is Truth?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780465082360
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Why Beauty Is Truth?
Ian Stewart
Who is the Publisher of the book Why Beauty Is Truth?
Basic Books
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Why Beauty Is Truth is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780465082360) and ebook(ISBN 9780465008759)
Where can I buy Why Beauty Is Truth online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Why Beauty Is Truth from below
Where can I buy Why Beauty Is Truth?