24 black-and-white photographs and 24 line illustrations. Index. Appendix. Bibliography. Glossary. Cross-references. Chronology. Tables. 240 Pages. 6 x 9.

Algebra developed independently in several places around the world, with Hindu, Greek, and Arabic ideas and problems arising at different points in history. Mostly rhetorical in its early forms, the symbolic form of algebra used today was formalized in the 17th century and later. In the past two centuries, algebra has taken two diverging paths. One is toward increasingly higher levels of abstraction, and the other is toward more concrete computational methods. Both paths are greatly influenced by past theories and developments in algebra.
Looking closely at algebra, its historical development, and its many useful applications, Algebra examines in detail the question of why this type of math is so important that it arose in different cultures at different times. The book also discusses the relationship between algebra and geometry, shows the progress of thought throughout the centuries, and offers biographical data on the key figures. Concise and comprehensive text accompanied by many illustrations presents the ideas and historical development of algebra, showcasing the relevance and evolution of this branch of mathematics.