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  • © 2010

Mathematica® in Action

Problem Solving Through Visualization and Computation

Editors:

  • Examples and case studies utilize Mathematica 7's newest tools, such as dynamic manipulations and adaptive three-dimensional plotting.
  • Emphasizes the breadth of Mathematica and the impressive results of combining techniques from different areas.
  • Visualization is emphasized throughout, with finely crafted graphics in each chapter.
  • All Mathematica code is included as Extras through Springer, saving the reader hours of typing. Access Extras here: http://extras.springer.com/2010/978-0-387-75366-9
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (22 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. A Brief Introduction

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 1-22
  3. Plotting

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 23-52
  4. Prime Numbers

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 53-76
  5. Rolling Circles

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 77-111
  6. Three-Dimensional Graphs

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 113-140
  7. Dynamic Manipulations

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 141-167
  8. The Cantor Set, Real and Complex

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 169-178
  9. The Quadratic Map

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 179-208
  10. The Recursive Turtle

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 209-234
  11. Parametric Plotting of Surfaces

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 235-265
  12. Penrose Tiles

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 267-275
  13. Solving Equations

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 301-328
  14. Optimization

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 329-362
  15. Differential Equations

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 363-397
  16. Computational Geometry

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 399-422
  17. Check Digits and the Pentagon

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 423-429
  18. Coloring Planar Maps

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 431-472
  19. New Directions For π

    • Stan Wagon
    Pages 473-490

About this book

This book is an example-based introduction to techniques, from elementary to advanced, of using Mathematica, a revolutionary tool for mathematical computation and exploration. By integrating the basic functions of mathematics with a powerful and easy-to-use programming language, Mathematica allows us to carry out projects that would be extremely laborious in traditional programming environments. And the new developments that began with version 6 — allowing the user to dyna- cally manipulate output using sliders or other controls — add amazing power to the interface. Animations have always been part of Mathematica, but the new design allows the manipulation of any number of variables, an important enhancement. Mathematica in Action illustrates this power by using demonstrations and ani- tions, three-dimensional graphics, high-precision number theory computations, and sophisticated geometric and symbolic programming to attack a diverse collection of problems.. It is my hope that this book will serve a mathematical purpose as well, and I have interspersed several unusual or complicated examples among others that will be more familiar. Thus the reader may have to deal simultaneously with new mat- matics and new Mathematica techniques. Rarely is more than undergraduate mathematics required, however. An underlying theme of the book is that a computational way of looking at a mathematical problem or result yields many benefits. For example: Well-chosen computations can shed light on familiar relations and reveal new patterns. One is forced to think very precisely; gaps in understanding must be eliminated if a program is to work.

Reviews

From the reviews of the third edition:

This book is a pleasing potpourri of Mathematica showpieces, picked to show the value of Mathematica for mathematics teaching and investigation... Although there is an introductory chapter explaining Mathematica, it is just enough to get you oriented and the examples go far beyond anything in this introduction. This book may motivate you to learn Mathematica but it won’t teach it to you.

The book is full of interesting things. The first half focuses on visualization and the math is relatively elementary (nothing beyond multivariable calculus). The second half works on much harder problems. —MAA Reviews

“Beginners will benefit from the book as will more experienced Mathematica programmers as the explorations build from simple introductory concepts … . The best feature of the book is that it teaches via interesting examples. … The writing is remarkably good. … The book contains a good number of color illustrations and is rich in Mathematica output. … interesting explorations with clear and engaging writing are hard to come by. I’m delighted to have this book in my collection.” (Playing with Mathematica, June, 2011)

Mathematica in Action is not a guidebook nor a reference manual. It is best described as a project book full of ideas and inspiration for research projects for anyone from high school students to professional mathematicians. It combines real mathematics with sophisticated coding… I highly recommend Mathematica in Action, both for its mathematical content and for its Mathematica content. You don’t have to be a serious Mathematica user to enjoy this book or even use it. You can read it for mathematical ideas and inspiration without touching a keyboard, or, if you are a devotee of a different software system, you might be inspired to translate the examples into your favorite language. —The MathematicalAssociation of America, September, 2011

“This the third edition of the famous book ‘Mathematica in Action’ in which the author guides beginner as well as veteran users alike through Mathematica’s powerful tools for mathematical exploration … .”­­­ (T. C. Mohan, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1198, 2010)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Macalester College, St. Paul, USA

    Stan Wagon

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access