Memorabilia Mathematica; or, the Philomath's Quotation-Book
Science
Memorabilia Mathematica; or, the Philomath's Quotation-Book
Mathematics; Mathematics -- Quotations, maxims, etc.
Towers, freely range through the celestial Fields, measure the
Magnitudes, and determine the Interstices of the Stars, prescribe
inviolable Laws to the Heavens themselves, and confine the
wandering Circuits of the Stars within fixed Bounds: Lastly, that
we comprehend the vast Fabrick of the Universe, admire and
contemplate the wonderful Beauty of the Divine Workmanship, and
to learn the incredible Force and Sagacity of our own Minds, by
certain Experiments, and to acknowledge the Blessings of Heaven
with pious Affection.--BARROW, ISAAC.
_Mathematical Lectures (London, 1734),
pp. 27-30._
=1573.= Analytical and graphical treatment of statistics is
employed by the economist, the philanthropist, the business
expert, the actuary, and even the physician, with the most
surprisingly valuable results; while symbolic language involving
mathematical methods has become a part of wellnigh every large
business. The handling of pig-iron does not seem to offer any
opportunity for mathematical application. Yet graphical and
analytical treatment of the data from long-continued experiments
with this material at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, resulted in the
discovery of the law that fatigue varied in proportion to a
certain relation between the load and the periods of rest.
Practical application of this law increased the amount handled by
each man from twelve and a half to forty-seven tons per day. Such
study would have been impossible without preliminary acquaintance
with the simple invariable elements of mathematics.--KARPINSKY, L.
_High School Education (New York, 1912),
chap. 6, p. 134._
=1574.= They [computation and arithmetic] belong then, it seems,
to the branches of learning which we are now investigating;--for
a military man must necessarily learn them with a view to the
marshalling of his troops, and so must a philosopher with the
view of understanding real being, after having emerged from the
unstable condition of becoming, or else he can never become an
apt reasoner.
That is the fact he replied.
But the guardian of ours happens to be both a military man and a
philosopher.
Unquestionably so.
It would be proper then, Glaucon, to lay down laws for this
branch of science and persuade those about to engage in the most
important state-matters to apply themselves to computation, and
study it, not in the common vulgar fashion, but with the view of
arriving at the contemplation of the nature of numbers by the
intellect itself,--not for the sake of buying and selling as
anxious merchants and retailers, but for war also, and that the
soul may acquire a facility in turning itself from what is in the
course of generation to truth and real being.--PLATO.
_Republic [Davis], Bk. 7, p. 525._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account