Most of us haven t given much thought to Pythagoras's theorem since geometry class, but we couldn't lead our lives without it. That humble equation describing a right triangle led to the invention of coordinate geometry, an essential tool for mapping and measuring the planet. In fact, seemingly basic equations have enabled us to predict eclipses, engineer earthquake-proof buildings, and invent the refrigerator. In this lively volume, mathematician Ian Stewart delves into 17 equations that shape our daily existence, including those dreamed up by the likes of Einstein, Newton, and Erwin Schrodinger.
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