A. W. F. Edwards

ix, 161 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : 25 cm

"In this second edition of his classic work Foundations of Mathematical Genetics A. W. F. Edwards gives a definitive account of the basic models of deterministic population genetics together with their historical background. Existing texts in mathematical genetics reveal a continuing need for a careful study of the foundations which this book satisfies, treating the simple deterministic models for random-mating diploid populations in depth without sacrificing clarity of expression. In the new edition, coverage has been extended with the provision of a new chapter on the Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection." "This book is intended for those interested in the mathematical aspects of genetics, ecology and biology."--BOOK JACKET.

"In Cogwheels of the Mind, statistician and geneticist A. W. F. Edwards provides an accessible and engaging history of the Venn diagram, its reception and evolution, and its presence in such objects and images as Christian iconography, tennis balls, and flags (a rich source of Venn diagrams) - including those of Switzerland, Poland, and Japan (all one-set Venn diagrams); Greenland (a two-set Venn diagram); and Maryland (a three-set device)." "Edwards begins with a sketch of Venn's life, his discovery of the three-circle design while developing a series of lectures on symbolic logic at Cambridge University, and the publication of his find in an 1880 paper and, more influentially, in his 1881 book, Symbolic Logic. Edwards discusses the rival diagrammatic scheme invented by Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, who developed a board game based on his design. The author also recreates famous Venn diagrams from history, including Winston Churchill's of 1948 depicting the mutual interests of the British Empire, a united Europe, and the English-speaking world, with the United Kingdom located at the intersection."--BOOK JACKET.

A history of Pascal's Arithmetical Triangle, tracing its roots in Pythagorean arithmetic, Hindu combinatorics and Arabic algebra, and giving an account of the progressive solution of combinatorial problems from the earliest recorded examples through the Renaissance and later mathematicians. The author shows how Pascal's work in establishing the peroperties of the numbers and their application in various fields let to Newton's discovery of the binomial theorem for fractional and negative indices and to Leibniz's discovery of calculus.