A History of Vector Analysis: The Evolution of the Idea of a Vectorial System

— (Dover Books on Mathematics)

— by Michael J. Crowe

Summary of book

The book has eight chapters: the first on the origins of vector analysis including Ancient Greek and 16th and 17th century influences; the second on the 19th century William Rowan Hamilton and quaternions; the third on other 19th and 18th century vectorial systems; the fourth on the general interest in the 19th century on vectorial systems including analysis of journal publications as well as sections on major figures and their views (e.g., Peter Guthrie Tait as an advocate of Quaternions and James Clerk Maxwell as a critic of Quaternions); the fifth on Josiah Willard Gibbs and Oliver Heaviside and their development of a modern system of vector analysis.

— Wikipedia on A History of Vector Analysis

2013.02.02 Saturday ACHK