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Books > Science & Mathematics > Mathematics > Mathematical foundations
Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Kurt Goedel first published his celebrated theorem, showing that no axiomatization can determine the whole truth and nothing but the truth concerning arithmetic, nearly a century ago. The theorem challenged prevalent presuppositions about the nature of mathematics and was consequently of considerable mathematical interest, while also raising various deep philosophical questions. Goedel's Theorem has since established itself as a landmark intellectual achievement, having a profound impact on today's mathematical ideas. Goedel and his theorem have attracted something of a cult following, though his theorem is often misunderstood. This Very Short Introduction places the theorem in its intellectual and historical context, and explains the key concepts as well as common misunderstandings of what it actually states. A. W. Moore provides a clear statement of the theorem, presenting two proofs, each of which has something distinctive to teach about its content. Moore also discusses the most important philosophical implications of the theorem. In particular, Moore addresses the famous question of whether the theorem shows the human mind to have mathematical powers beyond those of any possible computer ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
This introduction to mathematical logic takes G del's incompleteness theorem as a starting point. It goes beyond a standard text book and should interest everyone from mathematicians to philosophers and general readers who wish to understand the foundations and limitations of modern mathematics.
This latest collection of puzzles from the internationally acclaimed puzzlemaster Nob Yoshigahara covers a wide variety of puzzles from physical to visual, conceptual to mathematical. Solutions are provided in a separate section, which will help novices get on the right track, and will give seasoned aficionados a chance to check their work.
In these essays Geoffrey Hellman presents a strong case for a healthy pluralism in mathematics and its logics, supporting peaceful coexistence despite what appear to be contradictions between different systems, and positing different frameworks serving different legitimate purposes. The essays refine and extend Hellman's modal-structuralist account of mathematics, developing a height-potentialist view of higher set theory which recognizes indefinite extendability of models and stages at which sets occur. In the first of three new essays written for this volume, Hellman shows how extendability can be deployed to derive the axiom of Infinity and that of Replacement, improving on earlier accounts; he also shows how extendability leads to attractive, novel resolutions of the set-theoretic paradoxes. Other essays explore advantages and limitations of restrictive systems - nominalist, predicativist, and constructivist. Also included are two essays, with Solomon Feferman, on predicative foundations of arithmetic.
This story of a highly intelligent observer of the turbulent 20th century who was intimately involved as the secretary and bodyguard to Leon Trotsky is based on extensive interviews with the subject, Jean van Heijenoort, and his family, friends, and colleagues. The author has captured the personal drama and the professional life of her protagonist--ranging from the political passion of a young intellectual to the scientific and historic work in the most abstract and yet philosophically important area of logic--in a very readable narrative.
Logic is now widely recognized to be one of the foundational disciplines of computing with applications in virtually all aspects of the subject, from software engineering and hardware development to programming languages and artificial intelligence. There is a growing need for an in-depth survey of the applications of logic in AI and computer science. The Handbook of Logic in Artificial Intelligence and Logic Programming and its companion, Handbook of Logic in Computer Science, have been created in response to this need. This book is a combination of authoritative exposition, comprehensive survey, and fundamental research that explores underlying unifying themes in the various subject areas. Chapters have been written by an internationally renowned team of researchers and are coordinated in terms of the theories discussed and the examples offered. This book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in all areas of artificial intelligence, computer science, and logic, as well as to logicians and mathematicians.
This volume focuses on the important mathematical idea of functions
that, with the technology of computers and calculators, can be
dynamically represented in ways that have not been possible
previously. The book's editors contend that as result of recent
technological developments combined with the integrated knowledge
available from research on teaching, instruction, students'
thinking, and assessment, curriculum developers, researchers, and
teacher educators are faced with an unprecedented opportunity for
making dramatic changes.
Nonlinear Dynamics of Reservoir Mixtures provides an overview of
modeling techniques for solving nonlinear problems in
hydrodynamics, with an emphasis on compositional flows in porous
reservoirs. The volume focuses on nonlinear wave techniques for
simulating and predicting fluid dynamic processes in petroleum
reservoirs and discusses general applications of these models for
other fluids.
This graduate level text is distinguished both by the range of topics and the novelty of the material it treats--more than half of the material in it has previously only appeared in research papers. The first half of this book introduces the characteristic and matchings polynomials of a graph. It is instructive to consider these polynomials together because they have a number of properties in common. The matchings polynomial has links with a number of problems in combinatorial enumeration, particularly some of the current work on the combinatorics of orthogonal polynomials. This connection is discussed at some length, and is also in part the stimulus for the inclusion of chapters on orthogonal polynomials and formal power series. Many of the properties of orthogonal polynomials are derived from properties of characteristic polynomials. The second half of the book introduces the theory of polynomial spaces, which provide easy access to a number of important results in design theory, coding theory and the theory of association schemes. This book should be of interest to second year graduate text/reference in mathematics.
Multiple-Valued Logic Design: An Introduction explains the theory
and applications of this increasingly important subject. Written in
a clear and understandable style, the author develops the material
in a skillful way. Without using a huge mathematical apparatus, he
introduces the subject in a general form that includes the
well-known binary logic as a special case. The book is further
enhanced by more 200 explanatory diagrams and circuits, hardware
and software applications with supporting PASCAL programming, and
comprehensive exercises with even-numbered answers for every
chapter.
Examines partitions and covers of graphs and digraphs, latin squares, pairwise balanced designs with prescribed block sizes, ranks and permanents, extremal graph theory, Hadamard matrices and graph factorizations. This book is designed to be of interest to applied mathematicians, computer scientists and communications researchers.
This handsome book is aimed towards those with an intermediate skill level, but the origami basics included at the start of the book make it accessible to beginners. A number of beautiful models are offered, ranging from cubes to prisms to dodecahedra. As with the author's two previous books, Origami Inspirations provides step-by-step instructions and color distribution suggestions to create the more than 30 intricate designs presented. The book also includes a chapter featuring designs by origami artists from around the world, and these projects provide a happy complement to the author's own exciting inspirations in the rest of the book.
A textbook for either a semester or year course for graduate students of mathematics who have had at least one course in topology. Introduces continuum theory through a combination of classical and modern techniques. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
In the theory of splines, a function is approximated piece-wise by
(usually cubic) polynomials. Quasi-splines is the natural extension
of this, allowing us to use any useful class of functions adapted
to the problem.
Floating-point arithmetic is ubiquitous in modern computing, as it is the tool of choice to approximate real numbers. Due to its limited range and precision, its use can become quite involved and potentially lead to numerous failures. One way to greatly increase confidence in floating-point software is by computer-assisted verification of its correctness proofs. This book provides a comprehensive view of how to formally specify and verify tricky floating-point algorithms with the Coq proof assistant. It describes the Flocq formalization of floating-point arithmetic and some methods to automate theorem proofs. It then presents the specification and verification of various algorithms, from error-free transformations to a numerical scheme for a partial differential equation. The examples cover not only mathematical algorithms but also C programs as well as issues related to compilation.
Principles of Scientific Methods focuses on the fundamental principles behind scientific methods. The book refers to "science" in a broad sense, including natural science, physics, mathematics, statistics, social science, political science, and engineering science. A principle is often abstract and has broad applicability while a method is usually concrete and specific. The author uses many concrete examples to explain principles and presents analogies to connect different methods or problems to arrive at a general principle or a common notion. He mainly discusses a particular method to address the great idea behind the method, not the method itself. The book shows how the principles are not only applicable to scientific research but also to our daily lives. The author explains how scientific methods are used for understanding how and why things happen, making predictions, and learning how to prevent mistakes and solve problems. Studying the principles of scientific methods is to think about thinking and to enlighten our understanding of scientific research. Scientific principles are the foundation of scientific methods. In this book, you'll see how the principles reveal the big ideas behind our scientific discoveries and reflect the fundamental beliefs and wisdoms of scientists. The principles make the scientific methods coherent and constitute the source of creativity.
This volume provides a comprehensive introduction to module theory and the related part of ring theory, including original results as well as the most recent work. It is a useful and stimulating study for those new to the subject as well as for researchers and serves as a reference volume. Starting form a basic understanding of linear algebra, the theory is presented and accompanied by complete proofs. For a module M, the smallest Grothendieck category containing it is denoted by o[M] and module theory is developed in this category. Developing the techniques in o[M] is no more complicated than in full module categories and the higher generality yields significant advantages: for example, module theory may be developed for rings without units and also for non-associative rings. Numerous exercises are included in this volume to give further insight into the topics covered and to draw attention to related results in the literature.
This richly illustrated book provides step-by-step instructions for the construction of over 30 different modular origami structures. The author describes basic folding techniques required to construct themodules that are used as building blocks to construct complex ornamental models. The diagrams are clear, crisp, and easy to follow, and are accompanied by inspiring color photographs. Additional tips encourage the reader to design their own original creations. Advance Praise for Marvelous Modular Origami "A must-have for any modular origami polyhedra enthusiast." -Rona Gurkewitz, co-author of Multimodular Origami Polyhedra "The models are paper folding in its purest form. They range from simple Sonobe to floral and geometrical constructions. All are eye-catching and satisfying to fold, and the finished constructions are pleasing to behold. Also included are short sections on the mathematics behind the shapes and optimum color choices." -David Petty, author of Origami A-B-C "In this colorful book, you'll find wonderful original origami modular creations. Meenakshi's clear instructions and helpful hints will have you zipping through these modules as well as improvising your own." -Rachel Katz, co-author of FUN FOLDS: Language Learning Through Paper Folding "Marvelous Modular Origami is a colorful addition to the literature of mathematical origami." -Florence Temko, author of many origami and other craft books
Introduction to Probability with Texas Hold'em Examples illustrates both standard and advanced probability topics using the popular poker game of Texas Hold'em, rather than the typical balls in urns. The author uses students' natural interest in poker to teach important concepts in probability.
Stanford mathematician and NPR Math Guy Keith Devlin explains why, fun aside, video games are the ideal medium to teach middle-school math. Aimed primarily at teachers and education researchers, but also of interest to game developers who want to produce videogames for mathematics education, Mathematics Education for a New Era: Video Games as a Medium for Learning describes exactly what is involved in designing and producing successful math educational videogames that foster the innovative mathematical thinking skills necessary for success in a global economy. Read the author's monthly MAA column Devlin's Angle
Accessible to all students with a sound background in high school mathematics, A Concise Introduction to Pure Mathematics, Fourth Edition presents some of the most fundamental and beautiful ideas in pure mathematics. It covers not only standard material but also many interesting topics not usually encountered at this level, such as the theory of solving cubic equations; Euler's formula for the numbers of corners, edges, and faces of a solid object and the five Platonic solids; the use of prime numbers to encode and decode secret information; the theory of how to compare the sizes of two infinite sets; and the rigorous theory of limits and continuous functions. New to the Fourth Edition Two new chapters that serve as an introduction to abstract algebra via the theory of groups, covering abstract reasoning as well as many examples and applications New material on inequalities, counting methods, the inclusion-exclusion principle, and Euler's phi function Numerous new exercises, with solutions to the odd-numbered ones Through careful explanations and examples, this popular textbook illustrates the power and beauty of basic mathematical concepts in number theory, discrete mathematics, analysis, and abstract algebra. Written in a rigorous yet accessible style, it continues to provide a robust bridge between high school and higher-level mathematics, enabling students to study more advanced courses in abstract algebra and analysis.
This book was written to serve as an introduction to logic, with in each chapter - if applicable - special emphasis on the interplay between logic and philosophy, mathematics, language and (theoretical) computer science. The reader will not only be provided with an introduction to classical logic, but to philosophical (modal, epistemic, deontic, temporal) and intuitionistic logic as well. The first chapter is an easy to read non-technical Introduction to the topics in the book. The next chapters are consecutively about Propositional Logic, Sets (finite and infinite), Predicate Logic, Arithmetic and Goedel's Incompleteness Theorems, Modal Logic, Philosophy of Language, Intuitionism and Intuitionistic Logic, Applications (Prolog; Relational Databases and SQL; Social Choice Theory, in particular Majority Judgment) and finally, Fallacies and Unfair Discussion Methods. Throughout the text, the author provides some impressions of the historical development of logic: Stoic and Aristotelian logic, logic in the Middle Ages and Frege's Begriffsschrift, together with the works of George Boole (1815-1864) and August De Morgan (1806-1871), the origin of modern logic. Since "if ..., then ..." can be considered to be the heart of logic, throughout this book much attention is paid to conditionals: material, strict and relevant implication, entailment, counterfactuals and conversational implicature are treated and many references for further reading are given. Each chapter is concluded with answers to the exercises. Philosophical and Mathematical Logic is a very recent book (2018), but with every aspect of a classic. What a wonderful book! Work written with all the necessary rigor, with immense depth, but without giving up clarity and good taste. Philosophy and mathematics go hand in hand with the most diverse themes of logic. An introductory text, but not only that. It goes much further. It's worth diving into the pages of this book, dear reader! Paulo Sergio Argolo
The tradition of honoring Martin Gardner continues with this edited collection of articles by those who have been inspired by Gardner to enter mathematics, to enter magic, to bring magic into their mathematics, or to bring mathematics into their magic. Contributing authors include world-leading puzzle designers, puzzle collectors, mathematicians, and magicians. The variety of articles includes card or magic tricks (with a mathematical trick behind them), the history behind given puzzles, mathematically interesting objects involving the number seven, and puzzles for the reader to solve. Specific puzzles discussed include tangram, 14-15 Puzzle, seven-coloring of the torus, packing circles, Crazy Elephant Dance, and more!
For disciplines concerned with human well-being, such as medicine, psychology, and law, statistics must be used in accordance with standards for ethical practice. A Statistical Guide for the Ethically Perplexed illustrates the proper use of probabilistic and statistical reasoning in the behavioral, social, and biomedical sciences. Designed to be consulted when learning formal statistical techniques, the text describes common instances of both correct and false statistical and probabilistic reasoning. Lauded for their contributions to statistics, psychology, and psychometrics, the authors make statistical methods relevant to readers day-to-day lives by including real historical situations that demonstrate the role of statistics in reasoning and decision making. The historical vignettes encompass the English case of Sally Clark, breast cancer screening, risk and gambling, the Federal Rules of Evidence, "high-stakes" testing, regulatory issues in medicine, difficulties with observational studies, ethics in human experiments, health statistics, and much more. In addition to these topics, seven U.S. Supreme Court decisions reflect the influence of statistical and psychometric reasoning and interpretation/misinterpretation. Exploring the intersection of ethics and statistics, this comprehensive guide assists readers in becoming critical and ethical consumers and producers of statistical reasoning and analyses. It will help them reason correctly and use statistics in an ethical manner.
From imaginary numbers to the fourth dimension and beyond, mathematics has always been about imagining things that seem impossible at first glance. In x+y, Eugenia Cheng draws on the insights of higher-dimensional mathematics to reveal a transformative new way of talking about the patriarchy, mansplaining and sexism: a way that empowers all of us to make the world a better place. Using precise mathematical reasoning to uncover everything from the sexist assumptions that make society a harder place for women to live to the limitations of science and statistics in helping us understand the link between gender and society, Cheng's analysis replaces confusion with clarity, brings original thinking to well worn arguments - and provides a radical, illuminating and liberating new way of thinking about the world and women's place in it. |
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