A BRIEF HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS

Written and Presented by Marcus Du Sautoy

A Brief History of Mathematics is a series of programmes looking at some of the personalities behind mathematics, revealing not only some fascinating human stories (for example the unscrupulous treatment by Newton of his German rival Leibniz and the unlikely friendship between a Cambridge professor and an unknown Indian clerk) but also the hidden connections between dry-sounding mathematical theories and the conveniences of modern life which we take for granted. Gaussian distribution curves? The bedrock of statistical analysis. Prime number theory? It underpins the security systems used by banking and finance; an 18th century mathematical conundrum? It enables us to access the internet. Marcus du Sautoy is currently Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. In pursuit of this role he makes frequent appearances on radio and TV, memorably in a TV programme entitled How Long is a Piece of String? In which he guided a bemused Alan Davies down some of the quirkier pathways of the world of physics in order to answer this simple-sounding question . He is also the author of several books published by Fourth Estate, the latest of which is the Num8er My5teries.

BBC Audiobooks 2cds BBC69651