Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

abacus, in mathematics

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Chinese abacus: Numbers are represented by moving beads to the central crossbar. abacus ăbˈəkəs, əbăkˈ– [key], in mathematics, simple device for performing arithmetic calculations. Th...

radical, in mathematics

(Encyclopedia)radical, in mathematics, symbol () placed over a number or expression, called the radicand, to indicate a root of the radicand. When used without a sign or index number, as in 4, it designates the pos...

formula, in mathematics and physics

(Encyclopedia)formula, in mathematics and physics, equation expressing a definite fixed relationship between certain quantities. The quantities are usually expressed by letters, and their relationship is indicated ...

division, in mathematics

(Encyclopedia)division, fundamental operation in arithmetic; the inverse of multiplication. Division may be indicated by the symbol ÷, as in 15 ÷ 3, or simply by a fraction, 15/3. The number that is being divided...

Naples, University of

(Encyclopedia)Naples, University of, at Naples, Italy; founded 1224; transferred to Salerno 1252 but returned to Naples 1258. It has faculties of law, economics, letters and philosophy, medicine, pharmacy, mathemat...

Waterloo, University of

(Encyclopedia)Waterloo, University of, at Waterloo, Ont., Canada; nondenominational; founded 1957. It has faculties of arts, science, engineering, environmental studies, applied health sciences, mathematics, and gr...

Georgia, University of

(Encyclopedia)Georgia, University of, at Athens, Ga.; land-grant and state-supported; coeducational; chartered 1785 as the first state-supported university in the United States, opened 1801. The university's librar...

Rome, University of

(Encyclopedia)Rome, University of, at Rome, Italy; founded 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII. It has faculties of jurisprudence; political science; economics and commerce; statistics, demography, and actuarial science; le...

Bologna, University of

(Encyclopedia)Bologna, University of, at Bologna, Italy; founded in the 11th cent. It originated as a school where law books brought from Ravenna were interpreted. It has faculties of law, political science, econom...

Nicholas of Cusa

(Encyclopedia)Nicholas of Cusa (Nicolaus Cusanus), 1401?–1464, German humanist, scientist, statesman, and philosopher, from 1448 cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. The son of a fisherman, Nicholas was educate...