Science - History of the Universe Vol. 8: Mathematics

This eighth volume of Rolt-Wheeler's ambitious History of the Universe series presents mathematics as it was understood and taught in the early 20th century. Written by L. Leland Locke and Dr. Franz Bellinger, with an introduction by Professor Cassius J. Keyser, the text moves from foundational questions about number and calculation through the major branches of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, culminating in an exploration of mathematics' applications across science and daily life. A special section on the Foundation of Mathematics reflects the period's intense interest in the logical underpinnings of the discipline, then undergoing its own revolutionary reexamination. The result is a snapshot of mathematical thought at a moment when the subject was expanding rapidly into new territories while still wrestling with fundamental questions about its own nature. For readers curious about how an earlier generation understood mathematics, or for students of mathematical history seeking primary sources from this formative period, the book offers both clarity and period flavor.