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17 equations that altered history

Jan. 28, 2016

For many of us, math is just a course that we took in school. But mathematics is far more important than a word problem in a textbook.

Alexis Gajewski

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.

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.