17 equations that altered history

For many of us, math is a series of courses we took in school. Some of us use it more extensively than others on a day-to-day basis. But mathematics is far more important than a word problem in a textbook. Math equations have shaped our understanding of reality and changed the course of human history. In an excerpt from his 2013 book, "In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World," Ian Stewart writes: "Equations are the lifeblood of mathematics, science, and technology. Without them, our world would not exist in its present form."

Listen to an interview with Ian Stewart.

In a recent article, Andy Kiersz lists the 17 equations and explores how each has shaped our understanding of the world.

To learn more about the equations, read “The 17 equations that changed the course of history” from ScienceAlert.