| The book itself is the fruit of a very good idea of the British Society for the History of Mathematics, which was to have a conference and then a book on the theme of mathematical tables, and the editors are to be congratulated on a handsome volume on the social history of mathematics. Notes and Records of The Royal Society
The oldest known mathematical table was found in the ancient Sumerian city of Shuruppag in southern Iraq. Since then, tables have been an important feature of mathematical activity and are important precursors to modern computing and information processing. This book contains a series of articles summarizing the history of mathematical tables from earliest times until the late twentieth century. It covers mathematical tables (the most important computing aid for several hundred years until 1960s), data tables (i.e. Census tables), professional tables (ie. Insurance tables), and spreadsheets-the most recent tabular innovation. The book is presented in a scholarly yet accessible way, making appropriate use of text boxes and illustrations. Each chapter has a frontispiece featuring a table along with a small illustration of the source where the table was first displayed. Most chapters have sidebars telling a short "story" or history relating to the chapter. The aim of this edited volume is to capture the history of tables through eleven chapters written by subject specialists. The contributors describe the various information processing techniques and artifacts whose unifying concept is "the mathematical table".
About the Author
Martin Campbell-Kelly is in the Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick. Mary Croarken is a Visiting Fellow, Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick. Raymond Flood is a University Lecturer in Computing Studies and Mathematics, Oxford University Department for Continuing Education; Fellow of Kellog College. Eleanor Robson is a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. |
