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Mathematical Treasure: Arbuthnot on Usefulness of Mathematics

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

John Arbuthnot (1667-1735) was a Scottish physician, satirist, and general polymath. He also taught mathematics and wrote the first book in English on probability. His An Essay on the Usefulness of Mathematical Learning (1701) was a testimony to the power of mathematics. The work was republished in 1721 and again in 1745. The images shown here are from the third edition.

This material was obtained through the courtesy of the Peabody Library of Johns Hopkins University.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: Arbuthnot on Usefulness of Mathematics," Convergence (July 2016)