The Equation That Couldn’t Be Solved: How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry by Mario Livio (PDF)

Description

What do Bach’s compositions, Rubik’s Cube, the way we choose our mates, and the physics of subatomic particles have in common? All are governed by the laws of symmetry, which elegantly unify scientific and artistic principles. Yet the mathematical language of symmetry-known as group theory-did not emerge from the study of symmetry at all, but from an equation that couldn’t be solved. For thousands of years mathematicians solved progressively more difficult algebraic equations, until they encountered the quintic equation, which resisted solution for three centuries. Working independently, two great prodigies ultimately proved that the quintic cannot be solved by a simple formula. These geniuses, a Norwegian named Niels Henrik Abel and a romantic Frenchman named Évariste Galois, both died tragically young. Their incredible labor, however, produced the origins of group theory. The first extensive, popular account of the mathematics of symmetry and order, The Equation That Couldn’t Be Solved is told not through abstract formulas but in a beautifully written and dramatic account of the lives and work of some of the greatest and most intriguing mathematicians in history.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “A wide-ranging exploration of the phenomenon of symmetry….There’s math, yes, but there are also tales of love, violence, history — and the whole, in this case, turns out to be greater than the sum of those parts.” — Mary Carmichael, Newsweek”Fascinating. . . . [Livio] writes passionately about the role of symmetry in human perception and the arts.” — The Economist”A lively and fascinating read for a broad audience.” — Nature About the Author Mario Livio is an internationally known astrophysicist, a bestselling author, and a popular speaker who has appeared on The Daily Show, 60 Minutes, and NOVA. He is the author of the bestsellers The Golden Ratio, Brilliant Blunders, and Galileo. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐A very entertaining book giving the historical backdrop behind the development of group theory and symmetry, including dozens of prominent mathematicians and physicist. A whole chapter is devoted to each of the notable leaders in the field: the Frenchman Evariste Galois, who tragically died at age 20 in a duel over a woman and he developed his ground breaking theory while still in his teenage years, and the Norwegian Niels Hendrick Abel, who also died at the young age of 26, both remarkable and brilliant young mathematicians who were able to solve a mathematical problem of polynomial solutions that had stumped the best mathematicians for hundreds of years. The author does a splendid job in explaining how the symmetries in our natural world, and even some aspects of our human lives, are better understood in terms of group theory, which had its genesis in explaining symmetry. The book does not require any mathematical background.

⭐I read it for fun. The author pulls together many disparate threads into a very interesting whole.

⭐I liked the book because it is general enough for a non-expert, but has enough pointers to research in a topic of interest.It makes mathematics more humane – showing that the significant ideas take time to mature and to be understood by the scientific community.I recommend it to any engineering student wanting to know better the background faced by these geniuses when they discovered or created these topics.It doesn’t get five starts because it is a little confusing sometimes, getting too deep into an issue before moving to a completely different one. I had to re-read some pages back to understand where the book was going. Except for that, a very nice book on general math history.

⭐This book represents an ambitious effort of Mario Livio to explain and describe the mathematical origen of group theory, the language of symmetry, in its historical context. The subject is developed to show the importance of the theory for some of the most important scientific achievements of the 20th century (the general theory of relativity). The author’s account of the lives of the 2 young mathematicians who did the seminal work in this field presents a very gripping story and evokes the tragic sense that much was lost with their untimely deaths.The research involved in writing this book is truly extraordinary, and the ability of the author to interrelate the resulting information in a meaningful way is impressive.

⭐I am much older and my math is far out of date. I buy books like this to see if I can help myself.

⭐Really enjoyed this book, learned a lot. Some of it is technical but mostly It has lots of really fun facts about mathematics and mathematicians, and a story that spans generations and continents. Recommend.

⭐A very good read, a little technical in some places but this is exactly what I was looking for. The writer is eminently readable and introduces what is quite a complex subject clearly and with wit and good illustrations, both in words and pictures. The history expands on what I already knew and I learned quite a few things which were set out with clarity. Certainly recommended.

⭐This is a great book about mathematics, science, passion and tragedy, but most of all about symmetry and the central role it plays in the human understanding of the world.

⭐Good reasonably detailed coverage, about right for the enthusiastic amateur.

⭐middle of road

⭐Excellent

⭐A historical approach towards the discovery of Group Theory. This is not a textbook on group theory but rather tells you the story of the evolution of group theory

⭐Inspiring book, good print, timely delivery, good discount

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