From Calculus to Chaos
Published on 1. September 1997
Book
Hardback
278 pages
978-0-19-850257-9 (ISBN)
Description
What is calculus really for? This text is an introduction to applications of calculus, from Newton's time to the present day. These often involve questions of dynamics, i.e. of how - and why - things change with time. Problems of this kind lie at the heart of much of applied mathematics, physics, and engineering. The text moves from first steps to the frontiers, and highlights important and interesting ideas. Aimed at a wide readership, the text assumes only some knowledge of elementary calculus. Exercises (with full solutions) and simple but powerful computer programs which are suitable even for readers with no previous computing experience. The book aims to inspire new students by providing a foretaste of more advanced mathematics and showing just how interesting the subject can be.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
28 halftones, 151 line drawings, bibliography, index
ISBN-13
978-0-19-850257-9 (9780198502579)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
A brief review of calculus; ordinary differential equations; computer solution methods; elementary oscillations; planetary motion; waves and diffusion; the best of all possible worlds?; fluid flow; instability and catastrophe; nonlinear oscillations and chaos; the not-so-simple pendulum. Appendix A: elementary programming in QBASIC. Appendix B: ten programs for exploring dynamics; solutions to the exercises.