Five Equations That Changed the World: The Power and Poetry of Mathematics

by Michael Guillén and Michael Guillen

Book Overview

A Publishers Weekly best book of 1995

Dr. Michael Guillen, known to millions as the science editor of ABC's Good Morning America, tells the fascinating stories behind five mathematical equations.

As a regular contributor to daytime's most popular morning news show and an instructor at Harvard University, Dr. Michael Guillen has earned the respect of millions as a clear and entertaining guide to the exhilarating world of science...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786881879
• ISBN13: 9780786881871
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: Hachette Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.7" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

masterfully presented

Michael Guillen has chosen five famous mathematician to describe. The theme for discussing the particular person is that he discovered an equation that changed the world. Each deals with a result in Physics. One could argue that others could be added to the list but there is no question that these are certainly all contenders for the top five. Guillen is a science editor for ABC and is a professor of physics and methematics. This combination makes him well suited to choose the equations and to describe the results and the men behind them to a layman. The five equations and their authors are 1) F=GxMxm/d^2 Newton and the Law of Universal Gravitation, 2) P+rhox 1/2 nu^2 =CONSTANT, Daniel Bernoulli and the Law of Hydrodynamic Pressure, 3)DelXE=-dB/dt, Michael Faraday and the law of electromagnetic induction, 4) Delta S universe > 0, Rudoph Clausius and the second law of thermodynamics and 5) E=mxC^2, Einstein and the special theory of relativity. I am sure we all expected 1 and 5 and depending on your knowledge of physics, the others may or may not be a bit of a surprise. Guillen spends a lot of pages describing the nature of the equation, the character of the inventor and the impact of the results on society (sometimes centuries later). Newton's laws were instrumental in developing guidance and tracking systems for artificial satellites, space shuttles and other objects launched into space in the 20th Century. Our landing on the moon would not have been possible without Newton's laws. This makes for interesting reading for anyone interested in mathematics or science. A good book for teenagers to read to develop motivation to study math and science and to aspire for a career as a scientist.

science brought home

my husband (who is Stanford M.D.)and I(Beloit CollegeB.A.) were both impressed by this book. It shows how easily a great mind can make the jump from noticimg some common occurrence to realizing its application to a vast and important universal application.

Guillen's Five Equations Book

I consider Guillen's selection of his five main equations in physical sciences to be ingenious. His book should be an inspiration to us all, including the young generation which will discover in the amazing story of Faraday that an "uneducated" inventive genius was able to change the world of physics and electricity forever and immeasurably. The story of the Bernoulli family is insightful for all scientists, including philosophers of science, and illustrates exceptionally well the importance of tolerance and not letting success go to one's head and spoil one's open mindedness. The numerous applications of the Bernoullis to different fields are inspiring. The chapter on entropy is fascinating and should be read by everyone, although Guillen might have remarked that entropy is far from settled - especially since there are many different kinds of entropy and different theories of entropy and their deeper analysis and comparison is still far from complete. Newton and Einstein are indispensable for all physical scientists, and probably for all scientists for that matter. There are still many interesting questions about both Newton and Einstein that should provide much material for study by historians, psychologists, philosophers of science, and even social scientists. For example, why did Newton really wait so long to publish? Why did Leibniz' publications impel him to publish his own work? Why was Einstein so opposed to quantum theory, and why did quantum theorists fail to establish a peaceful dialogue with Einstein? The questions go on and on. I might remark here that Clarke et. al in their recent volume on nonsmooth analysis have shown that equations become inequalities and subset relationships in the disconnected and discontinuous/sharply bending curve worlds, which makes understanding of equations even more important than ever, including their roles and origins and where they are and are not applicable.

Understandable & Enjoyable: Fun While Learning!

This book allows the contemporary reader to glimpse the backgrounds of geniuses such as Newton, Bernoulli, Einstein, Clausius, and Faraday. Equations that we take for granted and now learn in high school were, at the times of these scientists, a leap into the great unknown. This book forces the reader to grasp the magnitude of these common men's genius and discoveries and their history-altering effects. As an engineer, the mathematical equations were very familiar to me, but it was enjoyable to learn about physical principles all over again-- only this time through the eyes of their discoverers. The only people that would give this book a bad review are either people who have absolutely no grasp on the most basic of physics or people who fancy themselves as so intelligent that they spend their entire reading time trying to find minor inconsistencies in the explanation of physical principles. This book was referred to me by a friend, and I figured I'd read it to be nice. Turns out, it was a diamond in the rough! I think this would make outstanding required reading in a high school physics class because it makes you WANT to learn more.

(Five Equations) + (Micheal Guillen) = The Best Non-Fiction

Any avid reader knows the experience. After weeding through countless uninspired (and uninspiring) novels, or grueling non-fiction that could only be improved by a couple of bald-faced lies, you somehow come across that ONE book that completely captures your imagination, and you simply can't read it fast enough. I would bet that anyone reading this knows the feeling exactly; it's the kind of experience that keeps one going back to the libraries and bookstores. I'm pleased to report that Michael Guillen's "Five Equations that Changed the World" falls into this category with ease. The subject matter may not initially attract those for whom "mathematics" is synonymous with "inferiority complex", but speaking as an "almost pure" non-mathematician, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in history, in the processes of scientific method, or who simply enjoys an absorbing human drama. Additionally, even the most mathematically challenged may finally have their first experience of truly understanding intricate numerical concepts, as well as the thought, experience and effort which go into their creation. The book details the lives of five historically prominent individuals, from Sir Issac Newton to Einstein, with the central focus of each story being a mathematical principle (and resulting equation) that proved to be their defining and enduring achievement. Guillen doesn't shy away from presenting the numerical concepts in their pure form, or try to take refuge in "layman's terms", but instead allows you to see some of the thought that went into the development of each equation, and in this way ensures that you will understand the concepts that led to the numbers. This process allows the reader to clearly see mathematics as a language that can be used to elegantly summarize complex ideas. Ultimately though, what is truly astonishing about the book doesn't lie in the five equations, but in the details of the lives of these remarkable men. Each story is filled with the passion, competition, family drama, ill feelings, jealousy, hard work and sheer will that underlies most human endeavours, science not the least. On finishing the book, I found myself wondering for days where people like these are today, people for whom "genius" seems a small and confining definition. There obviously is not space here to provide any details, so I will can only encourage anyone who finds this even mildly intriguing to do themselves a favour and go to the source as soon as possible. Guillen manages to find that extremely rare balance where, even as you're reading the book, you're marvelling at his ability to maintain an almost perfect mixture of enlightenment and entertainment. This book is one of those rare items (fiction or non-fiction) that is so absorbing that I found myself checking the number of the last page, not because (as so often happens) I wanted to know how much more I had to wade through, but because I just didn't want it to end too quickly. B