Joseph Henry Press
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The Joseph Henry Press, an imprint of the National Academies Press, was created with the goal of making books on science, technology, and health more widely available to professionals and the public. Joseph Henry was one of the early founders of the National Academy of Sciences and a leader in early American science.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this volume are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academy of Sciences or its affiliated institutions.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Derbyshire, John.
The unknown quantity : a real and imaginary history of algebra / by John Derbyshire.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-309-09657-X (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Algebra—History. 2. Equations—History. 3. Algebra, Universal—History. 4. Algebra, Abstract—History. 5. Geometry, Algebraic—History. I. Title.
QA151.D47 2006
512.009—dc22
2005037018
Cover image: J-L Charmet / Photo Researchers, Inc.
Copyright © 2006 by John Derbyshire. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.