Gems In Experimental Mathematics

These proceedings reflect the special session on Experimental Mathematics held January 5, 2009, at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Washington, DC as well as some papers specially solicited for this volume. Experimental Mathematics is a recently structured field of Mathematics that uses the computer and advanced computing technology as a tool to perform experiments. These include the analysis of examples, testing of new ideas, and the search of patterns to suggest results and to complement existing analytical rigor. The development of a broad spectrum of mathematical software products, such as MathematicaR and MapleTM, has allowed mathematicians of diverse backgrounds and interests to use the computer as an essential tool as part of their daily work environment. This volume reflects a wide range of topics related to the young field of Experimental Mathematics. The use of computation varies from aiming to exclude human input in the solution of a problem to traditional mathematical questions for which computation is a prominent tool.

“Number Theory and Related Fields” collects contributions based on the proceedings of the "International Number Theory Conference in Memory of Alf van der Poorten," hosted by CARMA and held March 12-16th 2012 at the University of Newcastle, Australia. The purpose of the conference was to promote number theory research in Australia while commemorating the legacy of Alf van der Poorten, who had written over 170 papers on the topic of number theory and collaborated with dozens of researchers. The research articles and surveys presented in this book were written by some of the most distinguished mathematicians in the field of number theory, and articles will include related topics that focus on the various research interests of Dr. van der Poorten.​

One of the traditional ways mathematical ideas and even new areas of mathematics are created is from experiments. One of the best-known examples is that of the Fermat hypothesis, which was conjectured by Fermat in his attempts to find integer solutions for the famous Fermat equation. This hypothesis led to the creation of a whole field of knowledge, but it was proved only after several hundred years. This book, based on the author's lectures, presents several new directions of mathematical research. All of these directions are based on numerical experiments conducted by the author, which led to new hypotheses that currently remain open, i.e., are neither proved nor disproved. The hypotheses range from geometry and topology (statistics of plane curves and smooth functions) to combinatorics (combinatorial complexity and random permutations) to algebra and number theory (continuous fractions and Galois groups). For each subject, the author describes the problem and presents numerical results that led him to a particular conjecture. In the majority of cases there is an indication of how the readers can approach the formulated conjectures (at least by conducting more numerical experiments). Written in Arnold's unique style, the book is intended for a wide range of mathematicians, from high school students interested in exploring unusual areas of mathematics on their own, to college and graduate students, to researchers interested in gaining a new, somewhat nontraditional perspective on doing mathematics. In the interest of fostering a greater awareness and appreciation of mathematics and its connections to other disciplines and everyday life, MSRI and the AMS are publishing books in the Mathematical Circles Library series as a service to young people, their parents and teachers, and the mathematics profession. Titles in this series are co-published with the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI).

This book is an outgrowth of a collection of sixty-two problems offered in the The American Mathematical Monthly (AMM) the author has worked over the last two decades. Each selected problem has a central theme, contains gems of sophisticated ideas connected to important current research, and opens new vistas in the understanding of mathematics. The AMM problem section provides one of the most challenging and interesting problem sections among the various journals and online sources currently available. The published problems and solutions have become a treasure trove rife with mathematical gems. The author presents either his published solution in the AMM or an alternative solution to the published one to present and develop problem-solving techniques. A rich glossary of important theorems and formulas is included for easy reference. The reader may regard this book as a starter set for AMM problems, providing a jumping of point to new ideas, and extending their personal lexicon of problems and solutions. This collection is intended to encourage the reader to move away from routine exercises toward creative solutions, as well as offering the reader a systematic illustration of how to organize the transition from problem solving to exploring, investigating and discovering new results.

Famous mathematical constants include the ratio of circular circumference to diameter, π = 3.14 ..., and the natural logarithm base, e = 2.718 .... Students and professionals can often name a few others, but there are many more buried in the literature and awaiting discovery. How do such constants arise, and why are they important? Here the author renews the search he began in his book Mathematical Constants, adding another 133 essays that broaden the landscape. Topics include the minimality of soap film surfaces, prime numbers, elliptic curves and modular forms, Poisson-Voronoi tessellations, random triangles, Brownian motion, uncertainty inequalities, Prandtl-Blasius flow (from fluid dynamics), Lyapunov exponents, knots and tangles, continued fractions, Galton-Watson trees, electrical capacitance (from potential theory), Zermelo's navigation problem, and the optimal control of a pendulum. Unsolved problems appear virtually everywhere as well. This volume continues an outstanding scholarly attempt to bring together all significant mathematical constants in one place.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Mathematical Analysis and Applications" that was published in Axioms

This book covers different aspects of umbral calculus and of its more recent developments. It discusses the technical details in depth, including its relevant applications. The book has therefore manyfold scopes to introduce a mathematical tool, not widespread known as it should be; to present a complete account of the relevant capabilities through the use of different examples of applications; to provide a formal bridge between different fields of research in pure and applied.