What Is Mathematics? Expectations" by Charles Dickens. According to Constance Reid, Courant finalized the title after a conversation with Thomas Mann. What Is Mathematics? What Is Mathematics? is a mathematics book written by Richard Courant and Herbert Robbins, published in England by Oxford University Press. It is an introduction to mathematics, intended both for the mathematics student and for the general public. First published in 1941, it discusses number theory, geometry, topology and calculus. A second edition was published in 1996 with an additional chapter on recent progress in mathematics, written by Ian Stewart. The book was based on Courant's course material. Although
Jacques-Alexandre Laffon de Ladebat Jacques-Alexandre Laffon de Ladebat Jacques-Alexandre Laffon de Ladebat (2 January 1719 – 18 November 1797) was one of the most important shipbuilders and merchants of the port of Bordeaux in the late 18th century. His son, André-Daniel Laffon de Ladebat (30 November 1746 – 14 October 1829), succeeded him, then became involved in politics in the French Revolution in 1789. Born on 2 January 1719, to Daniel Laffon de Ladébat and Jeanne Nairac, his family, being Protestant, had fled to the Netherlands following revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). Following the death of Louis XIV, religious persecution became less