Nahin, Paul J. <br/><br/>
When least is best:  how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible/ 
Paul J. Nahin. 
 - Princeton, N.J.:  Princeton University Press,  c2004. 
 - xviii, 370 p.:  ill.;  25 cm. 
<br/><br/> Includes index. 
<br/><br/> Minimums, maximums, derivatives, and computers --  The first extremal problems --  Medieval maximization and some modern twists --  The forgotten war of Descartes and Fermat --  Calculus steps forward, center stage --  Beyond calculus --  The modern age begins. 
<br/><br/><label>ISBN: </label>0691070784 (cloth : alk. paper) 
<br/><br/><label>LCCN: </label>2003055537 
<br/><br/><label>Nat. Bib. No.: </label>GBA3-U2213 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>Maxima and minima.<br/>Mathematics--History.<br/>Maximums et minimums.<br/>Mathématiques--Histoire.
<br/><br/><label>Dewey Class. No.: </label>510.9   / N153w