Mathematically, the book takes the reader through every development necessaryto uncover the ellipse. The book assumes no mathematical knowledge beyond a ninth grade education. Those who have had previous courses in the subjects willnevertheless find a refreshing presentation. By including several subjects ina single book, relationships between disciplines that are normally taught separately are stressed. By utilizing the ellipse as a mathematical focus, material is guided by a vexing problem of historical significance that motivated calculus as well as the laws of motion. This book presents the human story alongside the mathematics to emphasize that each aspect shapes and influences the progress and development of the other. The historical trail of the ellipse is followed, and many contributions from Aristarchus through Leibniz and the times through which they lived are presented. Paralleling the continuum of mathematical developments is man's continuous march to modernity through the Greeks, Romans, Medieval Europe, and Renaissance Europe. Chapter coverage includes: The Trail: Starting Out; The Space: Geometry; The Language: Algebra; The UniversalTool; Trigonometry; and The Slayer: Calculus.Arthur Mazer, PhD, is Manager of Quantitative Analytics at Southern California Edison where he oversees the risk assessment of SCE's power and gas portfolio. He has previously held managerial positions at Electrabel, Process Energy, and Energy Power Marketing Company. Additionally, he was Visiting Assistant Professor at Utah State University and Lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic, both in the Department of Mathematics. Dr. Mazer received his PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Arizona in 1990.
- ISBN: 978-0-470-58718-8
- Editorial: John Wiley & Sons
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 320
- Fecha Publicación: 14/05/2010
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés