Mathematical Problems: Exploring Mathematical Mysteries and Innovations

by David Hilbert

'Mathematical Problems' is a book derived from a lecture given by David Hilbert, a German mathematician and one of the most influential mathematicians of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Hilbert's address begins with the "Who of us would not be glad to lift the veil behind which the future lies hidden; to cast a glance at the next advances of our science and at the secrets of its development during future centuries? What particular goals will there be toward which the leading mathematical spirits of coming generations will strive? What new methods and new facts in the wide and rich field of mathematical thought will the new centuries disclose?"

Genres: Mathematics, Science

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

David Hilbert (23 January 1862 – 14 February 1943) was a German mathematician and one of the most influential mathematicians of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Hilbert discovered and developed a broad range of fundamental ideas in many areas, including invariant theory, the calculus of variations, commutative algebra, algebraic number theory, the foundations of geometry, spectral theory of operators and its application to integral equations, mathematical physics, and the foundations of mathematics (particularly proof theory).

Hilbert adopted and defended Georg Cantor's set theory and transfinite numbers. In 1900, he presented a collection of problems that set the course for much of the mathematical research of the 20th century.

Hilbert and his students contributed significantly to establishing rigor and developed important tools used in modern mathematical physics. Hilbert is known as one of the founders of proof theory and mathematical logic.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free download available at Project Gutenberg

A very interesting book for scholars and students.

I made the proofreading of this book for Free Literature and Project Gutenberg will publish it.

[Neville Ridley-smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understood some of the words.

In all other respects, having only done first year uni maths 30 years ago, I may as well have been reading Ancient Greek.

Suffice it to say, I skipped large chunks.

To say that I 'read' this is a woolly explanation of the facts.