Fernando Gouvêa was born in Brazil and educated at the University of São Paulo and at Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. in mathematics. Fernando is Professor of Mathematics at Colby College, where he teaches, among other things, a regular course on the history of mathematics. He was a participant in the Institute for the History of Mathematics and its Use in Teaching, organized by the Mathematical Association of America. Fernando is the editor of the newsletter of the MAA. In addition to this book, he wrote, edited, or co-wrote four other (rather technical) mathematics books as well as many research papers and expository articles.

Bill Berlinghoff was educated at Holy Cross, Boston College, and Wesleyan University, where he received his Ph.D. in mathematics. He is a Visiting Professor of Mathematics at Colby College in Waterville, ME. Among other courses, Bill regularly teaches Mathematics 111, a course in mathematics for liberal arts students that pays close attention to historical development of the subject. Bill is author and co-author of several college texts for liberal arts mathematics, including A Mathematics Sampler (5th edition, Ardsley House, 2001). He is also a senior writer for MATH Connections, a Standards-based secondary school core curriculum.