Abstract
THE calculus of matrices has had a curious history. It was first used by Hamilton in 1853 under the name of “Linear and Vector Functions”. Cay ley used the term matrix in 1854, and developed the basic notions of the theory in 1858 without recognising the relation of his work to that of Hamilton. The algebra of matrices was rediscovered by Laguerre in 1867 and by Frobenius in 1878. Sylvester wrote a large number of papers on matrices, especially in the years 1882-84. After this, although the subject was never entirely dropped, it certainly seemed for many years to be regarded as of little interest to mathematicians in general. Then suddenly came a change. In 1925 Heisenberg's quantum mechanics created a widespread interest in matrices among physicists and applied mathematicians. It is significant that in the bibliography given at the end of the book under review, the average number of entries for 1853-1924 is 5-3 a year, rising to 18-3 for the years 1925-33, although the basis of selection has been narrowed for the later years.
Lectures on Matrices
By J. H. M. Wedderburn. (American Mathematical Society Colloquium Publications, Vol. 17.) Pp. vii + 200. (New York: American Mathematical Society; Cambridge: Bowes and Bowes, 1934.) 3 dollars.
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Mathematics. Nature 136, 595 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136595c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136595c0