Tagged: history

The greatest mathematicians of all time

I have just come across this list and find it pretty unsurprising although Newton at #1 ahead of Gauss and Euler seemed a bit much. Emmy Noether is at #27. Maxwell is not given a ranking but is on the list. A shame I think although I do take the point about JCM working in mathematical physics more than in pure maths.

The Thirty Greatest Mathematicians

napier’s bones

napier's bones
A set of Napier’s Bones

Yesterday visited Traquair House near Innerleithen. They have a set of Napier’s Bones on display. The above set of calculating aids may have been used by JN himself according to a note in the display case.

Wolfram.com on Napier’s Bones
Wikipedia on Napier’s Bones
Nrich on Napier’s Bones

Also on display was this abacus

abacus
An abacus