{"product_id":"9780691178103","title":"Gamma: Exploring Euler's Constant","description":"\u003cp\u003eAmong the many constants that appear in mathematics, \u003ci\u003eπ\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ee\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003ei\u003c\/i\u003e are the most familiar. Following closely behind is \u003ci\u003ey\u003c\/i\u003e, or gamma, a constant that arises in many mathematical areas yet maintains a profound sense of mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a tantalizing blend of history and mathematics, Julian Havil takes the reader on a journey through logarithms and the harmonic series, the two defining elements of gamma, toward the first account of gamma's place in mathematics.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIntroduced by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), who figures prominently in this book, gamma is defined as the limit of the sum of 1 + 1\/2 + 1\/3 + . . . Up to 1\/\u003ci\u003en\u003c\/i\u003e, minus the natural logarithm of \u003ci\u003en\u003c\/i\u003e--the numerical value being 0.5772156. . . . But unlike its more celebrated colleagues \u003ci\u003eπ\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003ee\u003c\/i\u003e, the exact nature of gamma remains a mystery--we don't even know if gamma can be expressed as a fraction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the numerous topics that arise during this historical odyssey into fundamental mathematical ideas are the Prime Number Theorem and the most important open problem in mathematics today--the Riemann Hypothesis (though no proof of either is offered!).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSure to be popular with not only students and instructors but all math aficionados, \u003ci\u003eGamma\u003c\/i\u003e takes us through countries, centuries, lives, and works, unfolding along the way the stories of some remarkable mathematics from some remarkable mathematicians.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Princeton University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47975202193648,"sku":"9780691178103","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780691178103_p0.jpg?v=1763607491","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780691178103","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}