Introduction to Experimental Mathematics

by Søren Eilers, Rune Johansen

Overview

Mathematics is not, and never will be, an empirical science, but mathematicians are finding that the use of computers and specialized software allows the generation of mathematical insight in the form of conjectures and examples, which pave the way for theorems and their proofs. In this way, the experimental approach to pure mathematics is revolutionizing the way research mathematicians work. As the first of its kind, this book provides material for a one-semester course in experimental mathematics that will give students the tools and training needed to systematically investigate and develop mathematical theory using computer programs written in Maple. Accessible to readers without prior programming experience, and using examples of concrete mathematical problems to illustrate a wide range of techniques, the book gives a thorough introduction to the field of experimental mathematics, which will prepare students for the challenge posed by open mathematical problems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107156135
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/01/2017
Series:	Cambridge Mathematical Textbooks
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	316
Sales rank:	939,670
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.24(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

Søren Eilers is a professor of mathematics at the University of Copenhagen who heads the VILLUM Foundation Network for Experimental Mathematics in Number Theory, Operator Algebras, and Topology. He has received numerous teaching prizes as well as an outreach prize for developing the mathematics of LEGO, and is an expert of the classification of C*-algebras.

Rune Johansen was the first postdoc in experimental mathematics in Denmark, specializing in symbolic dynamics.

Table of Contents

1. Experimental method; 2. Basic programming in Maple; 3. Iteration and recursion; 4. Visualization; 5. Symbolic inversion; 6. Pseudorandomness; 7. Time, memory and precision; 8. Applications of linear algebra and graph theory.

Editorial Reviews

‘I’d like to applaud the authors for their interesting, innovative, well-structured book that is sure to serve as a standard for some time against which other future books of a similar kind will be measured against.’ Michael de Villiers, The Mathematical Gazette

From the Publisher