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Mathematical Knowledge, Objects and Applications: Essays in Memory of Mark Steiner (Jerusalem Studies in Philosophy and History of Science)
by Yemima Ben-Menahem Carl J. PosyThis book provides a survey of a number of the major issues in the philosophy of mathematics, such as ontological questions regarding the nature of mathematical objects, epistemic questions about the acquisition of mathematical knowledge, and the intriguing riddle of the applicability of mathematics to the physical world. Some of these issues go back to the nascent years of mathematics itself, others are just beginning to draw the attention of scholars. In addressing these questions, some of the papers in this volume wrestle with them directly, while others use the writings of philosophers such as Hume and Wittgenstein to approach their problems by way of interpretation and critique. The contributors include prominent philosophers of science and mathematics as well as promising younger scholars. The volume seeks to share the concerns of philosophers of mathematics with a wider audience and will be of interest to historians, mathematicians and philosophers alike.
Mathematical Logic: Essays On Set Theory, Model Theory, Philosophical Logic And Philosophy Of Mathematics (Ontos Mathematical Logic Ser. #5)
by Roman KossakThis book, presented in two parts, offers a slow introduction to mathematical logic, and several basic concepts of model theory, such as first-order definability, types, symmetries, and elementary extensions. Its first part, Logic Sets, and Numbers, shows how mathematical logic is used to develop the number structures of classical mathematics. The exposition does not assume any prerequisites; it is rigorous, but as informal as possible. All necessary concepts are introduced exactly as they would be in a course in mathematical logic; but are accompanied by more extensive introductory remarks and examples to motivate formal developments. The second part, Relations, Structures, Geometry, introduces several basic concepts of model theory, such as first-order definability, types, symmetries, and elementary extensions, and shows how they are used to study and classify mathematical structures. Although more advanced, this second part is accessible to the reader who is either already familiar with basic mathematical logic, or has carefully read the first part of the book. Classical developments in model theory, including the Compactness Theorem and its uses, are discussed. Other topics include tameness, minimality, and order minimality of structures. The book can be used as an introduction to model theory, but unlike standard texts, it does not require familiarity with abstract algebra. This book will also be of interest to mathematicians who know the technical aspects of the subject, but are not familiar with its history and philosophical background.
Mathematical Logic: On Numbers, Sets, Structures, and Symmetry (Springer Graduate Texts in Philosophy #4)
by Roman KossakThis textbook is a second edition of the successful, Mathematical Logic: On Numbers, Sets, Structures, and Symmetry. It retains the original two parts found in the first edition, while presenting new material in the form of an added third part to the textbook. The textbook offers a slow introduction to mathematical logic, and several basic concepts of model theory, such as first-order definability, types, symmetries, and elementary extensions. Part I, Logic Sets, and Numbers, shows how mathematical logic is used to develop the number structures of classical mathematics. All necessary concepts are introduced exactly as they would be in a course in mathematical logic; but are accompanied by more extensive introductory remarks and examples to motivate formal developments. The second part, Relations, Structures, Geometry, introduces several basic concepts of model theory, such as first-order definability, types, symmetries, and elementary extensions, and shows how they are usedto study and classify mathematical structures. The added Part III to the book is closer to what one finds in standard introductory mathematical textbooks. Definitions, theorems, and proofs that are introduced are still preceded by remarks that motivate the material, but the exposition is more formal, and includes more advanced topics. The focus is on the notion of countable categoricity, which analyzed in detail using examples from the first two parts of the book. This textbook is suitable for graduate students in mathematical logic and set theory and will also be of interest to mathematicians who know the technical aspects of the subject, but are not familiar with its history and philosophical background.
Mathematical Meditations (AK Peters/CRC Recreational Mathematics Series)
by Snezana LawrenceMathematical Meditations identifies, explores, and celebrates those aspects of mathematics that are good for you and your overall wellbeing. It is necessary for everyone to have a little time to think every so often: to contemplate, meditate, and try to understand where you are and what is going on around you. Mathematics can help you with all of that.The Meditations in this book are the product of thousands of years of mathematical discourse. As you read through the book and work through the various exercises, you will discover new mechanisms that allow you to contemplate and understand some complex mathematical principles. However, the focus will always be wider than a mere dry comprehension of theory, as you will be encouraged to meditate upon the deeper intrinsic beauty of mathematics and what it can reveal to us about the world around us.Features An original, engaging narrative format replete with novel exercises and examples Could be used in a classroom setting for liberal arts students, mathematics undergraduates, or high school teachers Accessible to anyone who wants to explore a different kind of perspective on mathematics
Mathematical Methods in Economics (Routledge Library Editions: Econometrics #17)
by Norman SchofieldOriginally published in 1984. Since the logic underlying economic theory can only be grasped fully by a thorough understanding of the mathematics, this book will be invaluable to economists wishing to understand vast areas of important research. It provides a basic introduction to the fundamental mathematical ideas of topology and calculus, and uses these to present modern singularity theory and recent results on the generic existence of isolated price equilibria in exchange economies.
Mathematical Models of Perception and Cognition Volume I: A Festschrift for James T. Townsend (Scientific Psychology Series)
by Joseph W. Houpt Leslie M. BlahaIn this two volume festschrift, contributors explore the theoretical developments (Volume I) and applications (Volume II) in traditional cognitive psychology domains, and model other areas of human performance that benefit from rigorous mathematical approaches. It brings together former classmates, students and colleagues of Dr. James T. Townsend, a pioneering researcher in the field since the early 1960s, to provide a current overview of mathematical modeling in psychology. Townsend’s research critically emphasized a need for rigor in the practice of cognitive modeling, and for providing mathematical definition and structure to ill-defined psychological topics. The research captured demonstrates how the interplay of theory and application, bridged by rigorous mathematics, can move cognitive modeling forward.
Mathematical Models of Perception and Cognition Volume II: A Festschrift for James T. Townsend (Scientific Psychology Series #2)
by Joseph W. Houpt Leslie M. BlahaIn this two volume festschrift, contributors explore the theoretical developments (Volume I) and applications (Volume II) in traditional cognitive psychology domains, and model other areas of human performance that benefit from rigorous mathematical approaches. It brings together former classmates, students and colleagues of Dr. James T. Townsend, a pioneering researcher in the field since the early 1960s, to provide a current overview of mathematical modeling in psychology. Townsend’s research critically emphasized a need for rigor in the practice of cognitive modeling, and for providing mathematical definition and structure to ill-defined psychological topics. The research captured demonstrates how the interplay of theory and application, bridged by rigorous mathematics, can move cognitive modeling forward.
Mathematical Papers (Dover Books on Mathematics)
by George Green N. M. FerrersAn almost entirely self-taught mathematical genius, George Green (1793 -1841) is best known for Green's theorem, which is used in almost all computer codes that solve partial differential equations. He also published influential essays, or papers, in the fields of hydrodynamics, electricity, and magnetism. This collection comprises his most significant works.The first paper, "An Essay on the Application of Mathematical Analysis to the Theories of Electricity and Magnetism," which is also the longest and perhaps the most Important, appeared In 1828. It introduced the term potential as designating the result obtained by adding together the masses of all the particles of a system, each divided by its distance from a given point. Its three-part treatment first considers the properties of this function and then applies them, in the second and third parts, to the theories of magnetism and electricity.The following paper, "Mathematical Investigations concerning the Laws of the Equilibrium of Fluids analogous to the Electric Fluid," exhibits great analytical power, as does the next, "On the Determination of the Exterior and Interior Attractions of Ellipsoids of Variable Densities." Other highlights include the brief but absorbing paper, "On the Motion of Waves in a variable canal of small depth and width," and two of his most valuable memoirs, "On the Laws of Reflexlon and Refraction of Sound" and "On the Reflexlon and Refraction of Light at the common surface of two non-crystallized Media," which should be studied together.
Mathematical Recreations from the Tournament of the Towns (AK Peters/CRC Recreational Mathematics Series)
by Peter Taylor Andy LiuMathematical Recreations from the Tournament of the Towns contains the complete list of problems and solutions to the International Mathematics Tournament of the Towns from Fall 2007 to Spring 2021.The primary audience for this book is the army of recreational mathematicians united under the banner of Martin Gardner. It should also have great value to students preparing for mathematics competitions and trainers of such students. This book also provides an entry point for students in upper elementary schools. Features Huge recreational value to mathematics enthusiasts Accessible to upper-level high school students Problems classified by topics such as two-player games, weighing problems, mathematical tasks etc.
Mathematical Sorcery: Revealing the Secrets of Numbers
by Calvin C. ClawsonThe secret of constellations, the enigma of the golden mean, and the brilliance of a proof-these are just some of the wonders Clawson explores with unbridled delight in this recreational math book. Throughout the book he divulges the wisdom of the ancient Greeks, Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, whose stunning revelations still have deep meaning today. Transporting us beyond mere appreciation, Clawson urges us to tackle functions, tangents, and the concept of infinity. He helps us intuitively comprehend these and other building blocks of mathematics through explaining their discovery and uses. By accompanying him on his journey, we taste the fruit of knowledge that has eluded us until now.
Mathematical Tablets from Tell Harmal
by Carlos GonçalvesThis work offers a re-edition of twelve mathematical tablets from the site of Tell Harmal, in the borders of present-day Baghdad. In ancient times, Tell Harmal was Saduppûm, a city representative of the region of the Diyala river and of the kingdom of Esnunna, to which it belonged for a time. These twelve tablets were originally published in separate articles in the beginning of the 1950s and mostly contain solved problem texts. Some of the problems deal with abstract matters such as triangles and rectangles with no reference to daily life, while others are stated in explicitly empirical contexts, such as the transportation of a load of bricks, the size of a vessel, the number of men needed to build a wall and the acquisition of oil and lard. This new edition of the texts is the first to group them, and takes into account all the recent developments of the research in the history of Mesopotamian mathematics. Its introductory chapters are directed to readers interested in an overview of the mathematical contents of these tablets and the language issues involved in their interpretation, while a chapter of synthesis discusses the ways history of mathematics has typically dealt with the mathematical evidence and inquires how and to what degree mathematical tablets can be made part of a picture of the larger social context. Furthermore, the volume contributes to a geography of the Old Babylonian mathematical practices, by evidencing that scribes at Saduppûm made use of cultural material that was locally available. The edited texts are accompanied by translations, philological, and mathematical commentaries.
Mathematical Thinking and Properties in Architecture: Palladio, Le Corbusier, and Eisenman (Mathematics and the Built Environment #10)
by Michael J. Ostwald Michael J. Dawes Ju Hyun LeeThis monograph explores the profound connections between architecture and mathematics through the works of Andrea Palladio, Le Corbusier, and Peter Eisenman. Combining historical insights with computational analyses, it examines the social, spatial, and aesthetic properties of twenty-six iconic designs. Advanced methods such as Space Syntax, isovists, fractal analysis, image segmentation and semantic linguistic analysis reveal the mathematical principles underlying architectural thinking and properties. Richly illustrated with over 100 visuals, this volume is an essential resource for senior undergraduates, postgraduates, practicing architects, and historians seeking a deeper understanding of mathematical thinking in architectural design and analysis.
Mathematical Traveler: Exploring The Grand History Of Numbers
by Calvin C. ClawsonThe story of numbers is a rich, sweeping history that shows how our mathematical achievements contributed to the greatest innovations of civilization. Calvin Clawson, acclaimed author of Conquering Math Phobia, weaves a story of numbers that spans thousands of years. As Clawson so clearly shows, numbers are not only an intrinsic and essential thread in our modern lives, but have always been an integral part of the human psyche - knit into the very fabric of our identity as humans. Clawson travels back through time to the roots of the history of numbers. In exploring early human fascination with numbers, he unearths the clay beads, knotted ropes, and tablets used by our ancestors as counting tools. He then investigates how numeric symbols and concepts developed uniquely and independently in Meso-America, China, and Egypt. As he persuasively argues, the mathematical concepts that arose and flourished in the ancient world enabled the creation of architectural masterpieces as well as the establishment of vast trade networks. Continuing the journey, Clawson brings us to the elegant logic of numbers that soon came to distinguish itself as a discipline and the language of science. From the concepts of infinity contemplated by the Greeks to the complex numbers that are indispensable to scientists on the cutting edge of research today, Clawson breathes life and meaning into the history of great mathematical mysteries and problems. In this spirit of inquiry, he explores, in their times and places, the discovery of numbers that lie outside the province of counting, including irrational numbers, transcendentals, complex numbers, and the enormous transfinite numbers. The personalities and the creative feats surrounding each mathematical invention come alive vividly in Clawson's lucid prose. In this work of breathtaking scope, Clawson guides us through the wonders of numbers and illustrates their monumental impact on civilization.
Mathematical Works Printed in the Americas, 1554–1700 (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Mathematics)
by Bruce Stanley BurdickThis magisterial annotated bibliography of the earliest mathematical works to be printed in the New World challenges long-held assumptions about the earliest examples of American mathematical endeavor. Bruce Stanley Burdick brings together mathematical writings from Mexico, Lima, and the English colonies of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York. The book provides important information such as author, printer, place of publication, and location of original copies of each of the works discussed. Burdick’s exhaustive research has unearthed numerous examples of books not previously cataloged as mathematical. While it was thought that no mathematical writings in English were printed in the Americas before 1703, Burdick gives scholars one of their first chances to discover Jacob Taylor’s 1697 Tenebrae, a treatise on solving triangles and other figures using basic trigonometry. He also goes beyond the English language to discuss works in Spanish and Latin, such as Alonso de la Vera Cruz's 1554 logic text, the Recognitio Summularum; a book on astrology by Enrico Martínez; books on the nature of comets by Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora and Eusebio Francisco Kino; and a 1676 almanac by Feliciana Ruiz, the first woman to produce a mathematical work in the Americas. Those fascinated by mathematics, its history, and its culture will note with interest that many of these works, including all of the earliest ones, are from Mexico, not from what is now the United States. As such, the book will challenge us to rethink the history of mathematics on the American continents.
Mathematician for All Seasons
by Hugo SteinhausRobert G. Burns Irena Szymaniec Aleksander WeronThis book presents, in his own words, the life of Hugo Steinhaus (1887-1972), noted Polish mathematician of Jewish background, educator, and mathematical popularizer. A student of Hilbert, a pioneer of the foundations of probability and game theory, and a contributor to the development of functional analysis, he was one of those instrumental to the extraordinary flowering of Polish mathematics before and after World War I. In particular, it was he who "discovered" the great Stefan Banach. Exhibiting his great integrity and wit, Steinhaus's personal story of the turbulent times he survived - including two world wars and life postwar under the Soviet heel - cannot but be of consuming interest. His recounting of the fearful years spent evading Nazi terror is especially moving. The steadfast honesty and natural dignity he maintained while pursuing a life of demanding scientific and intellectual enquiry in the face of encroaching calamity and chaos show him to be truly a mathematician for all seasons. The present work will be of great interest not only to mathematicians wanting to learn some of the details of the mathematical blossoming that occurred in Poland in the first half of the 20th century, but also to anyone wishing to read a first-hand account of the history of those unquiet times in Europe - and indeed world-wide - by someone of uncommon intelligence and forthrightness situated near an eye of the storm.
Mathematicians
by Robert C. Gunning Mariana CookMathematicians is a remarkable collection of ninety-two photographic portraits, featuring some of the most amazing mathematicians of our time. Acclaimed photographer Mariana Cook captures the exuberant and colorful personalities of these brilliant thinkers and the superb images are accompanied by brief autobiographical texts written by each mathematician. Together, the photographs and words illuminate a diverse group of men and women dedicated to the absorbing pursuit of mathematics. The compelling black-and-white portraits introduce readers to mathematicians who are young and old, fathers and daughters, and husbands and wives. They include Fields Medal winners, those at the beginning of major careers, and those who are long-established celebrities in the discipline. Their candid personal essays reveal unique and wide-ranging thoughts, opinions, and humor, as the mathematicians discuss how they became interested in mathematics, why they love the subject, how they remain motivated in the face of mathematical challenges, and how their greatest contributions have paved new directions for future generations. Mathematicians in the book include David Blackwell, Henri Cartan, John Conway, Pierre Deligne, Timothy Gowers, Frances Kirwan, Peter Lax, William Massey, John Milnor, Cathleen Morawetz, John Nash, Karen Uhlenbeck, and many others. Conveying the beauty and joy of mathematics to those both within and outside the field, this photographic collection is an inspirational tribute to mathematicians everywhere.
Mathematicians Fleeing from Nazi Germany: Individual Fates and Global Impact
by Reinhard Siegmund-SchultzeThe emigration of mathematicians from Europe during the Nazi era signaled an irrevocable and important historical shift for the international mathematics world. Mathematicians Fleeing from Nazi Germany is the first thoroughly documented account of this exodus. In this greatly expanded translation of the 1998 German edition, Reinhard Siegmund-Schultze describes the flight of more than 140 mathematicians, their reasons for leaving, the political and economic issues involved, the reception of these emigrants by various countries, and the emigrants' continuing contributions to mathematics. The influx of these brilliant thinkers to other nations profoundly reconfigured the mathematics world and vaulted the United States into a new leadership role in mathematics research. Based on archival sources that have never been examined before, the book discusses the preeminent emigrant mathematicians of the period, including Emmy Noether, John von Neumann, Hermann Weyl, and many others. The author explores the mechanisms of the expulsion of mathematicians from Germany, the emigrants' acculturation to their new host countries, and the fates of those mathematicians forced to stay behind. The book reveals the alienation and solidarity of the emigrants, and investigates the global development of mathematics as a consequence of their radical migration. An in-depth yet accessible look at mathematics both as a scientific enterprise and human endeavor, Mathematicians Fleeing from Nazi Germany provides a vivid picture of a critical chapter in the history of international science.
Mathematicians at war
by Laurent Mazliak Rossana TazzioliNumerous scientists have taken part in the war effort during World War I, but few gave it the passionate energy of the prominent Italian mathematician Volterra. As a convinced supporter of the cause of Britain and France, he struggled vigorously to carry Italy into the war in May 1915 and then developed a frenetic activity to support the war effort, going himself to the front, even though he was 55. This activity found an adequate echo with his French colleagues Borel, Hadamard and Picard. The huge correspondence they exchanged during the war, gives an extraordinary view of these activities, and raises numerous fundamental questions about the role of a scientist, and particularly a mathematician during WW I. It also offers a vivid documentation about the intellectual life of the time ; Volterra's and Borel's circles in particular were extremely wide and the range of their interests was not limited to their field of specialization. The book proposes the complete transcription of the aforementioned correspondence, annotated with numerous footnotes to give details on the contents. It also offers a general historical introduction to the context of the letters and several complements on themes related to the academic exchanges between France and Italy during the war.
Mathematicians in Bologna 1861–1960
by Salvatore CoenThe scientific personalities of Luigi Cremona, Eugenio Beltrami, Salvatore Pincherle, Federigo Enriques, Beppo Levi, Giuseppe Vitali, Beniamino Segre and of several other mathematicians who worked in Bologna in the century 1861-1960 are examined by different authors, in some cases providing different view points. Most contributions in the volume are historical; they are reproductions of original documents or studies on an original work and its impact on later research. The achievements of other mathematicians are investigated for their present-day importance.
Mathematicians' Reflections on Teaching: A Symbiosis with Mathematics Education Theories (Advances in Mathematics Education)
by Sepideh StewartThis book opens the case on collaboration among mathematicians and mathematics educators. The authors of this book provide their research and experience based insights on collaboration to inspire the young generation of the mathematics community to engage in productive collaborations and exchange of knowledge early in their careers. These valuable collaborations are anticipated to generate innovative research questions that set new and novel paths for mathematics education research with ample possibilities yet to be realized and discovered.
Mathematics
by David J. Chard Earlene J. Hall Edward B. Burger Jennie M. Bennett Paul A. Kennedy Freddie L. Renfro Tom W. Roby Janet K. Scheer Bert K. WaitsThe topics described in the Standards for Mathematical Content will vary from year to year. However, the way in which you learn, study, and think about mathematics will not. The Standards for Mathematical Practice describe skills that you will use in all of your math courses.
Mathematics Before and After Pythagoras: Exploring the Foundations and Evolution of Mathematical Thought
by Ravi P. AgarwalThis book provides the reader with a comprehensive account of the contributions of Pythagoras to mathematics and philosophy, using them as a starting point to compare pre-Pythagorean accomplishments with the myriad mathematical developments that followed. It begins with a thorough study of Pythagoreanism and the early Pythagoreans, including the major events in Pythagoras' life and the origins of the mystical significance attributed by Pythagoreans to natural numbers. From Chapter 3 onward, the book describes how mathematical thinking works and prepares the reader for the subsequent chapters, which cover mathematical logic and proofs, their application to the study of natural and prime numbers, the investigation of Pythagorean triples, figurative numbers, and irrational numbers, all interwoven with rich historical context. Aimed at students and teachers at all levels, this work is accessible to non-mathematicians as well, with the main prerequisite being an avid curiosity about some of the ideas and thinkers that helped to forge the mathematical world as we know it. Early praises for “Mathematics Before and After Pythagoras”: “Your book is charming and fun to read. It would be fine to be able to teach from it.” (Steve Krantz, USA) “...your new book, an obvious labor of love... I can see that it will be an inspiration for young students.” (Bruce Berndt, USA) “It is an excellent book, and I am deeply grateful for sending it to me. It is an extraordinary gift, and I am so grateful for this.” (Carlo Cattani, Italy) “I am really impressed by the wealth of interesting material you have collected and presented.” (Rainer Kress, Germany)
Mathematics Education in a Neocolonial Country: The Case of Papua New Guinea (History of Mathematics Education)
by Philip Clarkson Kay Owens Patricia Paraide Charly Muke Christopher OwensMost education research is undertaken in western developed countries. While some research from developing countries does make it into research journals from time to time, but these articles only emphasize the rarity of research in developing countries. The proposed book is unique in that it will cover education in Papua New Guinea over the millennia. Papua New Guinea’s multicultural society with relatively recent contact with Europe and the Middle East provides a cameo of the development of education in a country with both a colonial history and a coup-less transition to independence. Discussion will focus on specific areas of mathematics education that have been impacted by policies, research, circumstances and other influences, with particular emphasis on pressures on education in the last one and half centuries. This volume will be one of the few records of this kind in the education research literature as an in-depth record and critique of how school mathematics has been grown in Papua New Guinea from the late 1800s, and should be a useful addition to graduate programs mathematics education courses, history of mathematics, as well as the interdisciplinary fields of cross cultural studies, scholarship focusing on globalization and post / decolonialism, linguistics, educational administration and policy, technology education, teacher education, and gender studies.
Mathematics Minus Fear: How to Make Math Fun and Beneficial to Your Everyday Life
by Lawrence PotterForget your classroom nightmares and discover how numbers can enhance and illuminate your world!How can math help you bet on horses or win in Vegas? What&’s the foolproof way to solve Sudoku? How can probability teach you to calculate your chances of survival in Russian roulette? In this irreverent and entertaining guide to mathematics, Lawrence Potter takes the fear out of everything from long division to percentages. Using fascinating puzzles and surprising examples, from M.C. Escher to Pascal, he shows us how math is connected with the world we encounter every day, from how the VAT works to why weather forecasts are wrong, from winning at Monopoly to improving your mental arithmetic. Along the way you&’ll also discover who invented numbers, whether animals can count, and what nuns have to do with multiplication.
Mathematics Old and New
by Paul E. Johnson Saul StahlThis introductory treatment provides insightful expositions of specific applications as well as elements of mathematical history and culture. The in-depth coverage of key mathematical topics is presented in clear terms and at an informal level that relates classic concepts to readers' everyday lives. Some knowledge of high school algebra would be useful for a full appreciation of the book, which is suitable for advanced high school students and college undergraduates in all fields as well as readers with an interest in mathematics and its history. The first five chapters, as published in the book's first edition, deal somewhat unconventionally with probability, statistics, voting systems, game theory, and linear programming. This new edition adds chapters on geometry in two and three dimensions, Egyptian arithmetic, the evolution of the normal distribution, and other subjects. Readers are certain to acquire a heightened awareness of many aspects of contemporary mathematics and its subject matter, relevant applications, and history.