A Mathematical Odyssey

Author : Steven G. Krantz,Harold R. Parks
Publisher : Springer
Page : 392 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2014-05-10
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9781461489399

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A Mathematical Odyssey by Steven G. Krantz,Harold R. Parks Pdf

Mathematics is a poem. It is a lucid, sensual, precise exposition of beautiful ideas directed to specific goals. It is worthwhile to have as broad a cross-section of mankind as possible be conversant with what goes on in mathematics. Just as everyone knows that the Internet is a powerful and important tool for communication, so everyone should know that the Poincaré conjecture gives us important information about the shape of our universe. Just as every responsible citizen realizes that the mass-production automobile was pioneered by Henry Ford, so everyone should know that the P/NP problem has implications for security and data manipulation that will affect everyone. This book endeavors to tell the story of the modern impact of mathematics, of its trials and triumphs and insights, in language that can be appreciated by a broad audience. It endeavors to show what mathematics means for our lives, how it impacts all of us, and what new thoughts it should cause us to entertain. It introduces new vistas of mathematical ideas and shares the excitement of new ideas freshly minted. It discusses the significance and impact of these ideas, and gives them meaning that will travel well and cause people to reconsider their place in the universe. Mathematics is one of mankind's oldest disciplines. Along with philosophy, it has shaped the very modus of human thought. And it continues to do so. To be unaware of modern mathematics is to miss out on a large slice of life. It is to be left out of essential modern developments. We want to address this point, and do something about it. This is a book to make mathematics exciting for people of all interests and all walks of life. Mathematics is exhilarating, it is ennobling, it is uplifting, and it is fascinating. We want to show people this part of our world, and to get them to travel new paths.

Author : John Chisholm
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 44 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2018-06-05
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 0692076123

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Integral by John Chisholm Pdf

An out-of-control mathematical equation, taking on a life of its own and growing by the minute, threatens a nuclear holocaust. To save the world, a courageous young scientist and his dog brave blizzard and heights to discover and apply the insights of famed mathematician Wolfgang von Garbol. Along the way, they encounter a fatally beautiful, brilliant, mysterious woman. With its fast pacing, playful drawings, witty text, and geometric symmetry, this story will delight geeks of all ages.

Author : Marcus du Sautoy
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
Page : 273 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2011-05-24
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9780230120280

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The Number Mysteries by Marcus du Sautoy Pdf

Every time we download music, take a flight across the Atlantic or talk on our cell phones, we are relying on great mathematical inventions. In The Number Mysteries, one of our generation's foremost mathematicians Marcus du Sautoy offers a playful and accessible examination of numbers and how, despite efforts of the greatest minds, the most fundamental puzzles of nature remain unsolved. Du Sautoy tells about the quest to predict the future—from the flight of asteroids to an impending storm, from bending a ball like Beckham to forecasting population growth. He brings to life the beauty behind five mathematical puzzles that have contributed to our understanding of the world around us and have helped develop the technology to cope with it. With loads of games to play and puzzles to solve, this is a math book for everyone.

Author : Amir D. Aczel
Publisher : Macmillan + ORM
Page : 199 pages
File Size : 49,8 Mb
Release : 2015-01-06
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9781466879102

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Finding Zero by Amir D. Aczel Pdf

The invention of numerals is perhaps the greatest abstraction the human mind has ever created. Virtually everything in our lives is digital, numerical, or quantified. The story of how and where we got these numerals, which we so depend on, has for thousands of years been shrouded in mystery. Finding Zero is an adventure filled saga of Amir Aczel's lifelong obsession: to find the original sources of our numerals. Aczel has doggedly crisscrossed the ancient world, scouring dusty, moldy texts, cross examining so-called scholars who offered wildly differing sets of facts, and ultimately penetrating deep into a Cambodian jungle to find a definitive proof. Here, he takes the reader along for the ride. The history begins with the early Babylonian cuneiform numbers, followed by the later Greek and Roman letter numerals. Then Aczel asks the key question: where do the numbers we use today, the so-called Hindu-Arabic numerals, come from? It is this search that leads him to explore uncharted territory, to go on a grand quest into India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and ultimately into the wilds of Cambodia. There he is blown away to find the earliest zero—the keystone of our entire system of numbers—on a crumbling, vine-covered wall of a seventh-century temple adorned with eaten-away erotic sculptures. While on this odyssey, Aczel meets a host of fascinating characters: academics in search of truth, jungle trekkers looking for adventure, surprisingly honest politicians, shameless smugglers, and treacherous archaeological thieves—who finally reveal where our numbers come from.

Author : Shing-Tung Yau,Steve Nadis
Publisher : Yale University Press
Page : 449 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2019-02-19
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780300245523

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The Shape of a Life by Shing-Tung Yau,Steve Nadis Pdf

A Fields medalist recounts his lifelong effort to uncover the geometric shape—the Calabi-Yau manifold—that may store the hidden dimensions of our universe. Harvard geometer Shing-Tung Yau has provided a mathematical foundation for string theory, offered new insights into black holes, and mathematically demonstrated the stability of our universe. In this autobiography, Yau reflects on his improbable journey to becoming one of the world’s most distinguished mathematicians. Beginning with an impoverished childhood in China and Hong Kong, Yau takes readers through his doctoral studies at Berkeley during the height of the Vietnam War protests, his Fields Medal–winning proof of the Calabi conjecture, his return to China, and his pioneering work in geometric analysis. This new branch of geometry, which Yau built up with his friends and colleagues, has paved the way for solutions to several important and previously intransigent problems. With complicated ideas explained for a broad audience, this book offers not only insights into the life of an eminent mathematician, but also an accessible way to understand advanced and highly abstract concepts in mathematics and theoretical physics. “The remarkable story of one of the world’s most accomplished mathematicians . . . Yau’s personal journey—from escaping China as a youngster, leading a gang outside Hong Kong, becoming captivated by mathematics, to making breakthroughs that thrust him on the world stage—inspires us all with humankind’s irrepressible spirit of discovery.” —Brian Greene, New York Times–bestselling author of The Elegant Universe “An unexpectedly intimate look into a highly accomplished man, his colleagues and friends, the development of a new field of geometric analysis, and a glimpse into a truly uncommon mind.” —The Boston Globe “Engaging, eminently readable. . . . For those with a taste for elegant and largely jargon-free explanations of mathematics, The Shape of a Life promises hours of rewarding reading.” —American Scientist

Author : Marcus Du Sautoy
Publisher : HarperCollins UK
Page : 36 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2011
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9780007309863

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The Number Mysteries by Marcus Du Sautoy Pdf

Every time we download a song from i-tunes, take a flight across the Atlantic or talk on our mobile phones, we are relying on great mathematical inventions. Maths may fail to provide answers to various of its own problems, but it can provide answers to problems that don't seem to be its own -- how prime numbers are the key to Real Madrid's success, to secrets on the Internet and to the survival of insects in the forests of North America. In The Num8er My5teries, Marcus du Sautoy explains how to fake a Jackson Pollock; how to work out whether or not the universe has a hole in the middle of it; how to make the world's roundest football. He shows us how to see shapes in four dimensions -- and how maths makes you a better gambler. He tells us about the quest to predict the future -- from the flight of asteroids to an impending storm, from bending a ball like Beckham to predicting population growth.It's a book to dip in to; a book to challenge and puzzle -- and a book that gives us answers.

Author : Paul C. Pasles
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 272 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2007-11-04
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 0691129568

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Benjamin Franklin's Numbers by Paul C. Pasles Pdf

Few American lives have been as celebrated--or as closely scrutinized--as that of Benjamin Franklin. Yet until now Franklin's biographers have downplayed his interest in mathematics, at best portraying it as the idle musings of a brilliant and ever-restless mind. In Benjamin Franklin's Numbers, Paul Pasles reveals a side of the iconic statesman, scientist, and writer that few Americans know--his mathematical side. In fact, Franklin indulged in many areas of mathematics, including number theory, geometry, statistics, and economics. In this generously illustrated book, Pasles gives us the first mathematical biography of Benjamin Franklin. He draws upon previously unknown sources to illustrate Franklin's genius for numbers as never before. Magic squares and circles were a lifelong fascination of Franklin's. Here, for the first time, Pasles gathers every one of these marvelous creations together in one place. He explains the mathematics behind them and Franklin's hugely popular Poor Richard's Almanac, which featured such things as population estimates and a host of mathematical digressions. Pasles even includes optional math problems that challenge readers to match wits with the bespectacled Founding Father himself. Written for a general audience, this book assumes no technical skills beyond basic arithmetic. Benjamin Franklin's Numbers is a delightful blend of biography, history, and popular mathematics. If you think you already know Franklin's story, this entertaining and richly detailed book will make you think again.

Author : David Bruce Johnson,Thomas A. Mowry
Publisher : Brooks Cole
Page : 886 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 1998
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 0534350755

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Mathematics by David Bruce Johnson,Thomas A. Mowry Pdf

This book emphasizes the practical applications as well as the history of mathematics, showing students that mathematics is relevant to their education and to human history and culture. The authors effectively demonstrate how learning the algebraic concepts presented in the book allows students to understand more about logic, probability, statistics, finance, and more.

Author : Paul C. Pasles
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 266 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2021-01-12
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9780691223704

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Benjamin Franklin's Numbers by Paul C. Pasles Pdf

Few American lives have been as celebrated--or as closely scrutinized--as that of Benjamin Franklin. Yet until now Franklin's biographers have downplayed his interest in mathematics, at best portraying it as the idle musings of a brilliant and ever-restless mind. In Benjamin Franklin's Numbers, Paul Pasles reveals a side of the iconic statesman, scientist, and writer that few Americans know--his mathematical side. In fact, Franklin indulged in many areas of mathematics, including number theory, geometry, statistics, and economics. In this generously illustrated book, Pasles gives us the first mathematical biography of Benjamin Franklin. He draws upon previously unknown sources to illustrate Franklin's genius for numbers as never before. Magic squares and circles were a lifelong fascination of Franklin's. Here, for the first time, Pasles gathers every one of these marvelous creations together in one place. He explains the mathematics behind them and Franklin's hugely popular Poor Richard's Almanac, which featured such things as population estimates and a host of mathematical digressions. Pasles even includes optional math problems that challenge readers to match wits with the bespectacled Founding Father himself. Written for a general audience, this book assumes no technical skills beyond basic arithmetic. Benjamin Franklin's Numbers is a delightful blend of biography, history, and popular mathematics. If you think you already know Franklin's story, this entertaining and richly detailed book will make you think again.

Author : Claudi Alsina,Roger B. Nelsen
Publisher : American Mathematical Soc.
Page : 271 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2015-12-31
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9781614442165

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A Mathematical Space Odyssey by Claudi Alsina,Roger B. Nelsen Pdf

Solid geometry is the traditional name for what we call today the geometry of three-dimensional Euclidean space. This book presents techniques for proving a variety of geometric results in three dimensions. Special attention is given to prisms, pyramids, platonic solids, cones, cylinders and spheres, as well as many new and classical results. A chapter is devoted to each of the following basic techniques for exploring space and proving theorems: enumeration, representation, dissection, plane sections, intersection, iteration, motion, projection, and folding and unfolding. The book includes a selection of Challenges for each chapter with solutions, references and a complete index. The text is aimed at secondary school and college and university teachers as an introduction to solid geometry, as a supplement in problem solving sessions, as enrichment material in a course on proofs and mathematical reasoning, or in a mathematics course for liberal arts students.--

Author : Jordan Ellenberg
Publisher : Penguin Press
Page : 480 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2014-05-29
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9781594205224

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How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg Pdf

A brilliant tour of mathematical thought and a guide to becoming a better thinker, How Not to Be Wrong shows that math is not just a long list of rules to be learned and carried out by rote. Math touches everything we do; It's what makes the world make sense. Using the mathematician's methods and hard-won insights-minus the jargon-professor and popular columnist Jordan Ellenberg guides general readers through his ideas with rigor and lively irreverence, infusing everything from election results to baseball to the existence of God and the psychology of slime molds with a heightened sense of clarity and wonder. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see the hidden structures beneath the messy and chaotic surface of our daily lives. How Not to Be Wrong shows us how--Publisher's description.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 264 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2011
Category : Electronic
ISBN : OCLC:756291508

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The Number Mysteries by Anonim Pdf

Author : Steven G. Krantz,Harold R. Parks
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 168 pages
File Size : 40,8 Mb
Release : 2012-11-26
Category : Mathematics
ISBN : 9781461200598

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The Implicit Function Theorem by Steven G. Krantz,Harold R. Parks Pdf

The implicit function theorem is part of the bedrock of mathematical analysis and geometry. Finding its genesis in eighteenth century studies of real analytic functions and mechanics, the implicit and inverse function theorems have now blossomed into powerful tools in the theories of partial differential equations, differential geometry, and geometric analysis. There are many different forms of the implicit function theorem, including (i) the classical formulation for C^k functions, (ii) formulations in other function spaces, (iii) formulations for non- smooth functions, (iv) formulations for functions with degenerate Jacobian. Particularly powerful implicit function theorems, such as the Nash--Moser theorem, have been developed for specific applications (e.g., the imbedding of Riemannian manifolds). All of these topics, and many more, are treated in the present volume. The history of the implicit function theorem is a lively and complex story, and is intimately bound up with the development of fundamental ideas in analysis and geometry. This entire development, together with mathematical examples and proofs, is recounted for the first time here. It is an exciting tale, and it continues to evolve. "The Implicit Function Theorem" is an accessible and thorough treatment of implicit and inverse function theorems and their applications. It will be of interest to mathematicians, graduate/advanced undergraduate students, and to those who apply mathematics. The book unifies disparate ideas that have played an important role in modern mathematics. It serves to document and place in context a substantial body of mathematical ideas.

Author : Ivars Peterson,Nancy Henderson
Publisher : Jossey-Bass
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2000-10-26
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN : 0471315710

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Math Trek 2 by Ivars Peterson,Nancy Henderson Pdf

Take a wild and Wonderful Voyage Through the Universe of Mathematics! Just imagine how much fun it would be to explore the fourth dimension! Play baseball on an asteroid! Ride an alien bike with square wheels! Let Math Trek 2 take you on an intergalactic excursion as you master dizzying mathematical concepts on your home planet of Earth! While playing games and solving puzzles, you can explore mind-boggling mental mysteries and investigate hidden patterns in the universe. From strange number sequences and bizarre buckyballs to random walks, you’ll be amazed at the mathematical concepts you’ll soon comprehend. So let Math Trek 2 take you on a fantastic space odyssey where you can look for a pi in the sky, get stuck in galactic gridlock, and sail away to the planet of the shapes!

Author : Joseph Warren Dauben
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2016-04-19
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 0691632367

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Abraham Robinson by Joseph Warren Dauben Pdf

One of the most prominent mathematicians of the twentieth century, Abraham Robinson discovered and developed nonstandard analysis, a rigorous theory of infinitesimals that he used to unite mathematical logic with the larger body of historic and modern mathematics. In this first biography of Robinson, Joseph Dauben reveals the mathematician's personal life to have been a dramatic one: developing his talents in spite of war and ethnic repression, Robinson personally confronted some of the worst political troubles of our times. With the skill and expertise familiar to readers of Dauben's earlier works, the book combines an explanation of Robinson's revolutionary achievements in pure and applied mathematics with a description of his odyssey from Hitler's Germany to the United States via conflict-ridden Palestine and wartime Europe. Robinson was born in Prussia in 1918. As a boy, he fled with his mother and brother Saul to Palestine. A decade later he narrowly escaped from Paris as the Germans invaded France. Having spent the rest of World War II in England, at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, he began his teaching career at the Royal College of Aeronautics. Subsequently he moved to universities in Canada, Israel, and finally the United States. A joint appointment in mathematics and philosophy at UCLA led to a position at Yale University, where Robinson served as Sterling Professor of Mathematics until his untimely death at the age of fifty-five. Originally published in 1995. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.