Unknown quantity a real and imaginary history of algebra perfect for history buffs and armchair algebra experts unknown quantity tells the story of the development of abstract mathematical thought john derbyshire discovers the story behind the formulae roots and radicals. Unknown quantity heeds the lesson well so grab your graphing calculators slip out the slide rules and buckle up so grab your graphing calculators slip out the slide rules and buckle up john derbyshire is introducing us to algebra through the ages and it promises to be just what his die hard fans have been waiting for. Perfect for history buffs and armchair algebra experts unknown quantity tells the story of the development of abstract mathematical thought john derbyshire discovers the story behind the formulae roots and radicals as he did so masterfully in prime obsession derbyshire brings the evolution of mathematical thinking to dramatic life by focusing on the key historical players. In this sense unknown quantity has the same goal as prime obsession however the scope of unknown quantity is much larger because algebra is a vast subject with a long history dating back to the babylonians whose coherence is hard to see especially for nonmathematicians. Unknown quantity a real and imaginary history of algebra item preview remove circle unknown quantity a real and imaginary history of algebra by derbyshire john publication date 2006 topics algebra equations algebra universal algebra abstract geometry algebraic