Daniel Ward – S2504383 - Assignment University Library – February 24 2015

History of Mathematics

The focus of our workshop at the Special Collections Department will be on some very well-known classical texts from the history of mathematics. After spending some time with these primary sources, I want all of us to turn our attention toward the paper you all will write.

Today I want you to (1) come up with a topic – which does not have to be your final choice regarding your paper! - and (2) look for at least two publications available at our University Library that will help you research your topic. Finally (3) I want you to find at least one article or book, which is available in paper at Groningen University Libraries. Request, or find this book, and make a photo (with your phone, or whatever), or a photocopy of the actual publication. Give a very brief description of your search.

Fill in this form, paste your photo or a scan of your photocopy into it and upload it on Nestor before class next week (due 9 o’clock, Tuesday 3/3/15).

1. Temporary topic

My topic is on the concept of Infinity throughout the ages and I will be comparing the different views that different mathematicians held on the subject (such as Zeno and Aristotle (concerning Potential Infinity)). I will also try and discover when the symbol “∞” was chosen and I will also look at when the different types of infinity (N ,R ,…¿ were discovered/invented/named.

2. (At least) 2 publications

a. http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/PrintHT/Infinity.html - An article by J. J. O’Connor and E. F. Robertson named “Infinity”, from the University of St Andrews, Scotland written in February 2002, uploaded in March 2011, read on 1st March 2015

b. http://www.umsl.edu/~philo/People/Faculty/McGinnis%20Works/Avicennan %20infinity.pdf - An article by Jon McGinnis on the history of Infinite looking at the particular mathematician Avicenna named “Avicennan Infinity: A Select History of the Infinite through Avicenna.” From the University of Missouri, United States, written in 2010.

3. Title of the book /article you found and a short description how you found it.

“A Brief History of Infinity: The Quest to Think the Unthinkable” by Brian Clegg.

I found this book while searching for sources on my topic, I then searched for the book on the RUG Library catalogue and found it was in the closed stacks, I reserved the book so I could collect it from the central library.

Unfortunately I haven’t collected the book from the University Library yet, however, I have reserved it and I will pick it up this week to read properly.