Mathematical Reflections: In a Room with Many Mirrors

by Derek Holton, Peter Hilton, Jean Pedersen

Book Overview

The purpose of this book is to show what mathematics is about, how it is done, and what it is good for. The eight topics covered illustrate the unity of mathematical thought as well as the diversity of mathematical ideas; the relaxed and informal discussion makes it clear that mathematics can be exciting and engrossing. The book, which includes recent discoveries that lead to open questions, will give pleasure to anyone interested in the intellectually...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0387947701
• ISBN13: 9780387947709
• Release Date: December 1996
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.3" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Visual Thinkers Paradise

If you have trouble understanding and particularly visualizing what mathematical formulae mean. If you have a belief that all mathematical concepts CAN be visualized if only mathematicians tried hard enough. If you like math books but wish there were more pictures. If you wish there were instructions on things to do in Math books other than write out formulae and solutions. If you want hope that there's new and exciting stuff out there that you can find by doing things with paper other than writing on it. THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. A particularly interesting section on how to generate the Cantor Set by Geometric iteration using the tent map and a good explanation of sets related to the Cantor set and the general relationship of things like the Cantor Set to more complicated fractals. One of the most interesting books I have eever read vastly increased my understanding and provided me with valuable ideas to furthur my own creative efforts. Well done HHandP I look forward to the new book.

Two thumbs up for this book.

"Mathematical Reflections" can be enjoyed by anyone with a high school level of mathematical education but will also interst the more advanced reader. Topics from tiling of the plane to paper folding to Fibonacci numbers are presented in a clear and interesting manner along with problems and solutions. If you ever wondered why the ratio of consecutive Fibonacci numbers converges to the "golden ratio", this book is worth the purchase price