The Hindu-Arabic Numerals

Smith, David Eugene, 1860-1944Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 4.0

Word count: 322K words
Chapters: 33

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Hindu-Arabic Numerals by Louis Charles Karpinski and David Eugene SmithAuthor: Smith, David Eugene, 1860-1944,Language: English, Class: QA: Science: Mathematics, Release Date: Sep 14, 2007

Editor's review

Co-written by the historians of mathematics Smith and Karpinski, this book is devoted to tracing the origins and spread of Hindu-Arabic numerals. Its value lies not in telling stories but in examining the evolution of numeral forms, writing traditions, and cross-regional transmission together, making it a thematic read for those interested in the history of mathematics, the history of writing, and the spread of science. As a public-domain e-book, it preserves the narrative style and terminology of early history-of-mathematics research, letting readers sense how scholars worked with materials a century ago. Its strengths are a focused topic and clear thread: though short, it lays out how the numeral system entered Europe and gradually replaced older methods of notation. It suits slow reading at a desk with notes tracking changes in symbols, and can also serve as supplementary material for courses on the history of mathematics. Note that it was written early, so some views and materials need to be checked against newer research and it should not be treated as the only introductory overview.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in the history of mathematics and the origins of numerals
Students taking courses in the history of science and the history of writing
Primary and secondary school teachers who need thematic supplementary material
Readers who enjoy old public-domain scholarly works and are willing to compare them with modern research

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping for light, story-driven popular mathematics
Professional researchers who need an overview of the latest history-of-mathematics research
Readers who find English difficult and are unwilling to look up terminology

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and introduction first, mark the key points of numeral-form change, then read chapter by chapter.
Keep a sheet of paper to copy the numeral symbols that appear, which helps in understanding the evolution.
When encountering early terminology or old-fashioned expressions, compare them with modern history-of-mathematics sources.
Read alongside other introductory books on numeral history to avoid relying on the views of a single old work.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no background?

Not entirely. The book involves specialized discussion of the history of mathematics and the evolution of symbols, so readers with no background should first learn the basic background of how Arabic numerals spread, or start with a more accessible introduction to numeral history before returning to this book's specialized discussion.

Why take notes while reading?

The book's thread centers on the forms and spread of numeral symbols, involving materials from many regions and periods. Jotting down symbol changes, place names, and dates helps connect the scattered discussion into a clear outline and prevents ending up with only fragmentary impressions.

What should I watch for in the public-domain e-book edition?

Public-domain e-books usually preserve the original book's narrative style and terminology, and research written early may differ from modern scholarly views. Treat it as an old specialized work, and check key conclusions against newer histories of mathematics rather than taking them directly as settled fact.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Smith, David Eugene, 1860-1944 Author

David Eugene Smith (1860-1944) is an author in the fields of the history of mathematics and mathematics education, though public information about the details of his life is limited. Two of his works are held in this collection: The Hindu-Arabic Numerals and The Teaching of Geometry. The former examines the origins and spread of Hindu-Arabic numerals and is a specialized study in the history of mathematics; the latter discusses methods and ideas in geometry teaching and addresses classroom practice. One historical and one pedagogical in theme, the two works show an author concerned both with the historical development of mathematical knowledge and with problems of instruction. His writing centers on organizing historical sources, explaining origins and developments, and setting out teaching points, in plain language that values readability and practicality. Although the available material is not enough to describe his career or academic background in detail, the choice of subjects and manner of exposition give his writings some reference value for understanding the historical evolution of numeral symbols and early discussions of geometry teaching.