A delightful tour of the greatest ideas of math, showing how math intersects with philosophy, science, art, business, current events, and everyday life, by an acclaimed science communicator and regular contributor to the "New York Times."
This is the captivating story of mathematics' greatest ever idea: calculus. Without it, there would be no computers, no microwave ovens, no GPS, and no space travel. But before it gave modern man almost infinite powers, calculus was behind centuries of controversy, competition, and even death. Taking us on a thrilling journey through three millennia, professor Steven Strogatz charts the development of this seminal achievement from the days of Aristotle to today's million-dollar reward that awaits whoever cracks Reimann's hypothesis. Filled with idiosyncratic characters from Pythagoras to Euler, Infinite Powers is a compelling human drama that reveals the legacy of calculus on nearly every aspect of modern civilization, including science, politics, ethics, philosophy, and much besides.
"Have you ever played the addictive card game SET? Have you ever wondered about the connections between games and mathematics? . . . The Joy of SET takes readers on a fascinating journey into this seemingly simple card game and reveals its surprisingly deep and diverse mathematical dimensions. Absolutely no mathematical background is necessary to enjoy this book - all you need is a sense of curiosity and adventure. Originally invented in 1974 by Marsha Falco and officially released in 1991, SET has gained a widespread, loyal following. SET's eighty-one cards consist of one, two, or three symbols of different shapes (diamond, oval, squiggle), shadings (solid, striped, open), and colors (green, purple, red). In order to win, players must identify 'sets' of three cards for which each characteristic is the same - or different - on all the cards. SET's strategic and unique design opens connections to a plethora of mathematical disciplines, including geometry, modular arithmetic, combinatorics, probability, linear algebra, and computer simulations. The Joy of SET looks at these areas as well as avenues for further mathematical exploration. As the authors show, the relationship between SET and mathematics runs in both directions - playing this game has generated new mathematics, and the math has led to new questions about the game itself."--Provided by publisher.
ARE YOU A system manager who needs to understand X architecture toolsand techniques? An IT director or manager deciding whether your organizationshould go the X route? A programmer who wants an overview of X before exploring thesystem in detail? Involved in technical support and looking for an understandingof how X works? Confused by the GUI wars between OPEN LOOK and Motif? Involved in sales or marketing and need to understand yourcustomers? THEN THE JOY OF X IS FOR YOU It provides an introduction to the X Window System, the de factostandard windowing system for workstations, minicomputers, mainframes and supercomputers running UNIX, MS and otheroperating systems. THE JOY OF X pulls together material from awide range of sources to provide a complete picture of the systemso that you can understand the important features and issues.FEATURES INCLUDE: Topic coverage divided into three sections: X in a nutshell - a quick managers' overviewHow X works, in detail, and how the user sees itUsing the system, system administration, performance andprogramming Written in a clear, uncomplicated style, and containing over200 illustrations for maximum accessibility A flexibile, modular structure that makes it easy to skip tothe sections that interest you and avoid technical details thatdon't "I find this book extraordinary. It's one of the first books onX which addresses questions of information systems policy withrespect to the X Window System...It will advance the case of Xand open systems by making the interesting issues moreaccessible..."Oliver Jones "THE X WINDOW SYSTEM: A USER'S GUIDEshines like a beacon. Itcaters for the intelligent non-programmer, the person who can domore than just click buttons and menus but doesn't want to diveinto code..."Jon Vogler, SUN UK User 0201565129B04062001
“Delightful . . . easily digestible chapters include plenty of helpful examples and illustrations. You'll never forget the Pythagorean theorem again!”—Scientific American Many people take math in high school and promptly forget much of it. But math plays a part in all of our lives all of the time, whether we know it or not. In The Joy of x, Steven Strogatz expands on his hit New York Times series to explain the big ideas of math gently and clearly, with wit, insight, and brilliant illustrations. Whether he is illuminating how often you should flip your mattress to get the maximum lifespan from it, explaining just how Google searches the internet, or determining how many people you should date before settling down, Strogatz shows how math connects to every aspect of life. Discussing pop culture, medicine, law, philosophy, art, and business, Strogatz is the math teacher you wish you’d had. Whether you aced integral calculus or aren’t sure what an integer is, you’ll find profound wisdom and persistent delight in The Joy of x.
Teaches Chess Players the Principles of Chess Programming & How the Computer "Decides" which Move to Make. Teaches How to Write Their Own Chess Programs
Finally, a medical doctor objectively explores the benefits and pitfalls of alternative health care, based on exceptional scholarship, exhaustive study, and long clinical practice. Receive clear-cut answers to the most commonly asked questions about nutrition and preventive medicine, and make informed choices about alternative treatments.