Alberto A. Martinez's Books

Negative Math

How Mathematical Rules Can Be Positively Bent

By: Alberto A. Martínez

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Negative Math

How Mathematical Rules Can Be Positively Bent

By: Alberto A. Martínez

A student in class asks the math teacher: "Shouldn't minus times minus make minus?" Teachers soon convince most students that it does not. Yet the innocent question brings with it a germ of mathematical creativity. What happens if we encourage that thought, odd and ungrounded though it may seem? Few books in the field of mathematics encourage such creative thinking. Fewer still are engagingly written and fun to read. This book succeeds on both counts. Alberto Martinez shows us how many of the mathematical concepts that we take for granted were once considered contrived, imaginary, absurd, or just plain wrong. Even today, he writes, not all parts of math correspond to things, relations, or operations that we can actually observe or carry out in everyday life. Negative Math ponders such issues by exploring controversies in the history of numbers, especially the so-called negative and "impossible" numbers. It uses history, puzzles, and lively debates to demonstrate how it is still possible to devise new artificial systems of mathematical rules. In fact, the book contends, departures from traditional rules can even be the basis for new applications. For example, by using an algebra in which minus times minus makes minus, mathematicians can describe curves or trajectories that are not represented by traditional coordinate geometry. Clear and accessible, Negative Math expects from its readers only a passing acquaintance with basic high school algebra. It will prove pleasurable reading not only for those who enjoy popular math, but also for historians, philosophers, and educators. Key Features? Uses history, puzzles, and lively debates to devise new mathematical systems Shows how departures from rules can underlie new practical applications Clear and accessible Requires a background only in basic high school algebra

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Page Count

280

Publisher

Princeton University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0691187827

ISBN 13

9780691187822

The Cult of Pythagoras

Math and Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

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The Cult of Pythagoras

Math and Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

In this follow-up to his popular Science Secrets, Alberto A. Martinez discusses various popular myths from the history of mathematics: that Pythagoras proved the hypotenuse theorem, that Archimedes figured out how to test the purity of a gold crown while he was in a bathtub, that the Golden Ratio is in nature and ancient architecture, that the young Galois created group theory the night before the pistol duel that killed him, and more. Some stories are partly true, others are entirely false, but all show the power of invention in history. Pythagoras emerges as a symbol of the urge to conjecture and "fill in the gaps" of history. He has been credited with fundamental discoveries in mathematics and the sciences, yet there is nearly no evidence that he really contributed anything to such fields at all. This book asks: how does history change when we subtract the many small exaggerations and interpolations that writers have added for over two thousand years? The Cult of Pythagoras is also about invention in a positive sense. Most people view mathematical breakthroughs as "discoveries" rather than invention or creativity, believing that mathematics describes a realm of eternal ideas. But mathematicians have disagreed about what is possible and impossible, about what counts as a proof, and even about the results of certain operations. Was there ever invention in the history of concepts such as zero, negative numbers, imaginary numbers, quaternions, infinity, and infinitesimals? Martinez inspects a wealth of primary sources, in several languages, over a span of many centuries. By exploring disagreements and ambiguities in the history of the elements of mathematics, The Cult of Pythagoras dispels myths that obscure the actual origins of mathematical concepts. Martinez argues that an accurate history that analyzes myths reveals neglected aspects of mathematics that can encourage creativity in students and mathematicians.

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Page Count

289

Publisher

University of Pittsburgh Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822978539

ISBN 13

9780822978534

Science Secrets

The Truth about Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

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Science Secrets

The Truth about Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

Was Darwin really inspired by Galapagos finches? Did Einstein's wife secretly contribute to his theories? Did Franklin fly a kite in a thunderstorm? Did a falling apple lead Newton to universal gravity? Did Galileo drop objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Did Einstein really believe in God? Science Secrets answers these questions and many others. It is a unique study of how myths evolve in the history of science. Some tales are partly true, others are mostly false, yet all illuminate the tension between the need to fairly describe the past and the natural desire to fill in the blanks. Energetically narrated, Science Secrets pits famous myths against extensive research from primary sources in order to accurately portray important episodes in the sciences. Alberto A. Martinez analyzes how such myths grow and rescues neglected facts that are more captivating than famous fictions. Moreover, he shows why opinions that were once secret and seemingly impossible are now scientifically compelling. The book includes new findings related to the Copernican revolution, alchemy, Pythagoras, young Einstein, and other events and figures in the history of science.

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Page Count

348

Publisher

University of Pittsburgh Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822980177

ISBN 13

9780822980179

A Remote Integrated Testbed for Cooperating Objects

By: Jose Ramiro Martinez-de Dios,Adrian Jimenez-Gonzalez,Alberto de San Bernabe,Anibal Ollero

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A Remote Integrated Testbed for Cooperating Objects

By: Jose Ramiro Martinez-de Dios,Adrian Jimenez-Gonzalez,Alberto de San Bernabe,Anibal Ollero

Testbeds are gaining increasing relevance in research domains and also in industrial applications. However, very few books devoted to testbeds have been published. To the best of my knowledge no book on this topic has been published. This book is particularly interesting for the growing community of testbed developers. I believe the book is also very interesting for researchers in robot-WSN cooperation. This book provides detailed description of a system that can be considered the first testbed that allows full peer-to-peer interoperability between heterogeneous robots and ubiquitous systems such as Wireless Sensor Networks, camera networks and pervasive computing systems. The system architecture includes modules that allows full bidirectional communication between robots and WSN. One robot can The book describes the current state of the art in development of testbeds integrating Cooperating Object technologies. It describes in detail the testbed specification and design using requirements extracted from surveys among experts in robotics and ubiquitous systems in academia and industry. The book also describes the testbed novel architecture and its hardware and software components. Moreover, it includes details on user support tools to facilitate its use such as remote use using a virtual private network and sets of functionalities of interest for members from the robotics, WSN and robot-WSN communities. Finally, the book illustrates its capabilities and potentialities describing the implementation of some of the experiments that have been performed. Examples from the robotics, WSN and robot-WSN communities are described.

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Publisher

Springer Science & Business Media

Published Date

ISBN 10

3319013726

ISBN 13

9783319013725

The Visigoths in Gaul and Iberia (Update)

A Supplemental Bibliography, 2013-2015

By: Alberto Ferreiro

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The Visigoths in Gaul and Iberia (Update)

A Supplemental Bibliography, 2013-2015

By: Alberto Ferreiro

The bibliography includes material published from 2013 to 2015. Following on from the first bibliography (Brill, 1988) and its updates (Brill 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014) this volume covers recent literature on: Archaeology, Liturgy, Monasticism, Iberian-Gallic Patristics, Paleography, Linguistics, Germanic and Muslim Invasions, and more. In addition, peoples such as the Vandals, Sueves, Basques, Alans and Byzantines are included. The book contains author and subject indexes and is extensively cross-indexed for easy consultation. A periodicals index of hundreds of journals accompanies the volume.

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Page Count

337

Publisher

BRILL

Published Date

ISBN 10

9004341145

ISBN 13

9789004341142

Cluster-based Localization and Tracking in Ubiquitous Computing Systems

By: José Ramiro Martínez-de Dios,Alberto de San Bernabé-Clemente,Arturo Torres-González,Anibal Ollero

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Cluster-based Localization and Tracking in Ubiquitous Computing Systems

By: José Ramiro Martínez-de Dios,Alberto de San Bernabé-Clemente,Arturo Torres-González,Anibal Ollero

Localization and tracking are key functionalities in ubiquitous computing systems and techniques. In recent years a very high variety of approaches, sensors and techniques for indoor and GPS-denied environments have been developed. This book briefly summarizes the current state of the art in localization and tracking in ubiquitous computing systems focusing on cluster-based schemes. Additionally, existing techniques for measurement integration, node inclusion/exclusion and cluster head selection are also described in this book.

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Springer

Published Date

ISBN 10

3662547619

ISBN 13

9783662547618

The Cult of Pythagoras

Math and Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

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The Cult of Pythagoras

Math and Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

Martínez discusses various popular myths from the history of mathematics. Some stories are partly true, others are entirely false, but all show the power of invention in history. Martínez inspects a wealth of primary sources, in several languages, over a span of many centuries. By exploring disagreements and ambiguities in the history of the elements of mathematics, The Cult of Pythagoras dispels myths that obscure the actual origins of mathematical concepts. Chosen as a major selection by Scientific American Book Club (Library of Science(R))

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Page Count

264

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822962705

ISBN 13

9780822962700

Burned Alive

Bruno, Galileo and the Inquisition

By: Alberto A. Martinez

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Burned Alive

Bruno, Galileo and the Inquisition

By: Alberto A. Martinez

In 1600, the Catholic Inquisition condemned the philosopher and cosmologist Giordano Bruno for heresy, and he was then burned alive in the Campo de’ Fiori in Rome. Historians, scientists, and philosophical scholars have traditionally held that Bruno’s theological beliefs led to his execution, denying any link between his study of the nature of the universe and his trial. But in Burned Alive, Alberto A. Martínez draws on new evidence to claim that Bruno’s cosmological beliefs—that the stars are suns surrounded by planetary worlds like our own, and that the Earth moves because it has a soul—were indeed the primary factor in his condemnation. Linking Bruno’s trial to later confrontations between the Inquisition and Galileo in 1616 and 1633, Martínez shows how some of the same Inquisitors who judged Bruno challenged Galileo. In particular, one clergyman who authored the most critical reports used by the Inquisition to condemn Galileo in 1633 immediately thereafter wrote an unpublished manuscript in which he denounced Galileo and other followers of Copernicus for their beliefs about the universe: that many worlds exist and that the Earth moves because it has a soul. Challenging the accepted history of astronomy to reveal Bruno as a true innovator whose contributions to the science predate those of Galileo, this book shows that is was cosmology, not theology, that led Bruno to his death.

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Page Count

466

Publisher

Reaktion Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1780239408

ISBN 13

9781780239408

Negative Math

How Mathematical Rules Can be Positively Bent

By: Alberto A. Martínez

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Negative Math

How Mathematical Rules Can be Positively Bent

By: Alberto A. Martínez

Explores controversies in the history of numbers, especially the so-called negative and ''impossible'' numbers. This book uses history, puzzles, and lively debates to demonstrate how it is possible to devise new artificial systems of mathematical rules. It contends that departures from traditional rules can even be the basis for new applications.

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Page Count

288

Publisher

Princeton University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0691123098

ISBN 13

9780691123097

The Cult of Pythagoras

Math and Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

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The Cult of Pythagoras

Math and Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

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Page Count

289

Publisher

University of Pittsburgh Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822978539

ISBN 13

9780822978534

Science Secrets

The Truth about Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

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Science Secrets

The Truth about Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths

By: Alberto A. Martinez

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

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Page Count

348

Publisher

University of Pittsburgh Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822980177

ISBN 13

9780822980179

Book's by Alberto A. Martinez

Negative Math

Negative Math

The Cult of Pythagoras

The Cult of Pythagoras

Science Secrets

Science Secrets

A Remote Integrated Testbed for Cooperating Objects

A Remote Integrated Testbed for Cooperating Objects

The Visigoths in Gaul and Iberia (Update)

The Visigoths in Gaul and Iberia (Update)

Cluster-based Localization and Tracking in Ubiquitous Computing Systems

Cluster-based Localization and Tracking in Ubiquitous Computing Systems

The Cult of Pythagoras

The Cult of Pythagoras

Burned Alive

Burned Alive

Negative Math

Negative Math

The Cult of Pythagoras

The Cult of Pythagoras

Science Secrets

Science Secrets

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