THE MATHEMATICAL MECHANIC by Mark Levi ( 9780691154565 ) - Books & Audio Books at Pickabook.co.uk

Item Details

Title:

THE MATHEMATICAL MECHANIC
USING PHYSICAL REASONING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

By:

Mark Levi

Format:

Paperback

List price:

£14.99

Our price:

£11.99

Discount:

20% off

You save:

£3.00

ISBN 10:

0691154562

ISBN 13:

9780691154565

Availability:

Usually dispatched within 1-3 weeks.

Delivery rates

Stock:

Currently 0 available

Publisher:

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS

Pub. date:

17 July, 2012

Pages:

200

Description:

Did you know it's possible to derive the Pythagorean theorem by spinning a fish tank filled with water? Or that the line of best fit for a data set can be found using a mechanical contraption made from a rod and springs? This title demonstrates how to use physical intuition to solve these and other math problems.

Synopsis:

Everybody knows that mathematics is indispensable to physics--imagine where we'd be today if Einstein and Newton didn't have the math to back up their ideas. But how many people realize that physics can be used to produce many astonishing and strikingly elegant solutions in mathematics? Mark Levi shows how in this delightful book, treating readers to a host of entertaining problems and mind-bending puzzlers that will amuse and inspire their inner physicist. Levi turns math and physics upside down, revealing how physics can simplify proofs and lead to quicker solutions and new theorems, and how physical solutions can illustrate why results are true in ways lengthy mathematical calculations never can. Did you know it's possible to derive the Pythagorean theorem by spinning a fish tank filled with water? Or that soap film holds the key to determining the cheapest container for a given volume? Or that the line of best fit for a data set can be found using a mechanical contraption made from a rod and springs? Levi demonstrates how to use physical intuition to solve these and other fascinating math problems. More than half the problems can be tackled by anyone with precalculus and basic geometry, while the more challenging problems require some calculus. This one-of-a-kind book explains physics and math concepts where needed, and includes an informative appendix of physical principles. The Mathematical Mechanic will appeal to anyone interested in the little-known connections between mathematics and physics and how both endeavors relate to the world around us.

Illustrations:

56 halftones. 66 line illus. 1 table.

Publication:

Imprint:

Princeton University Press

Prizes:

Short-listed for Amazon.com science editors' "Top 10 list for Science" 2009 Short-listed for Choice's Outstanding Academic Books 2009 (United States)

Returns:

Returnable

Some other items by this author:

CLASSICAL MECHANICS WITH CALCULUS OF VARIATIONS AND OPTIMAL CONTROL (PB)

DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS APPROACHES TO NONLINEAR PROBLEMS IN SYSTEMS AND CIRCUITS (HB)