Mathematica In The Laboratory

How to use Mathematica to control laboratory experiments and analyse data.

This introductory textbook is based on the premise that the foundation of good science is good data. The educational challenge addressed by this introductory textbook is how to present a sampling of the wide range of mathematical tools available for laboratory research to well-motivated students with a mathematical background limited to an introductory course in calculus.

Integrating computers into mathematical statistics courses allows students to simulate experiments and visualize their results, handle larger data sets, analyze data more quickly, and compare the results of classical methods of data analysis with those using alternative techniques. This text presents a concise introduction to the concepts of probability theory and mathematical statistics. The accompanying in-class and take-home computer laboratory activities reinforce the techniques introduced in the text and are accessible to students with little or no experience with Mathematica. These laboratory materials present applications in a variety of real-world settings, with data from epidemiology, environmental sciences, medicine, social sciences, physical sciences, manufacturing, engineering, marketing, and sports. Mathematica Laboratories for Mathematical Statistics: Emphasizing Simulation and Computer Intensive Methods includes parametric, nonparametric, permutation, bootstrap and diagnostic methods. Chapters on permutation and bootstrap techniques follow the formal inference chapters and precede the chapters on intermediate-level topics. Permutation and bootstrap methods are discussed side by side with classical methods in the later chapters.

The text is composed of a set of sixteen laboratory investigations which allow the student to explore rich and diverse ideas and concepts in mathematics. The approach is hands-on, experimental, an approach that is very much in the spirit of modern pedagogy. The course is typically offered in one semester, at the sophomore (second year) level of college. It requires completion of one year of calculus. The course provides a transition to the study of higher, abstract mathematics. The text is written independent of any software. Supplements will be available on the projects' web site.

Animating Calculus is designed to help you explore calculus and visualize concepts through the use of computation and animation. This collection of 22 labs, together with the computer algebra system Mathematica, can be used for self-study, demonstration, or as a laboratory supplement to an existing calculus sequence. Standard calculus topics as well as new and unusual extensions and applications are presented, including derivatives and rate of change, calculus and landing airplanes, population dynamics and iteration, the fundamental theorem, The Buffon needle problem, numerical and symbolic integration, rolling wheels (round and square), subtleties of the harmonic series, and more. Animating Calculus includes exercises and demonstrations that focus on important and fundamental ideas and applications rather than the everyday mechanics of a computer algebra system. Sophisticated animations are used to clarify geometric concepts in calculus. In addition, discussions of numerical and graphical pitfalls help the student to understand the importance of verifying results. Originally published by W. H. Freeman, this new TELOS edition of Animating Calculus includes the full set of labs for DOS/Windows as well as Macintosh platforms.

This workbook contains over two dozen laboratory modules that use Mathematica to enliven the teaching and learning of calculus. The labs range from standard calculus topics to new and unusual extensions and applications.

This hands-on manual, with pedagogical features that draw the learner into the content, offers clear and complete coverage of the mathematical topics most often used in today’s clinical and medical laboratories. Furthermore, it provides a solid foundation for subsequent courses in the laboratory sciences. The first two chapters present a review of basic mathematical concepts. The remainder of the book provides students with a realistic means to build on previously learned concepts— both mathematical and scientific—to refine their mathematical skills, and to gauge their mastery of those skills. Outstanding features . . . • Each chapter opens with an outline, objectives, and key terms. • Key terms, highlighted within the text, are listed and defined in the glossary. • “Margin problems” and practice problem sets provide the chance to gain immediate proficiency. • Laboratory exercises and review problems allow students to apply what they’ve learned and assess their understanding and progress. • A special calculator icon signals explanations of calculator use for a particular mathematical function. • Study hints—“Keys to Success”—offer practical suggestions and guidance for maximizing achievement. • The workbook design enables users to solve problems and take notes directly on the pages.

Calculus and change. The two words go together. Calculus is about change, and approaches to teaching calculus are changing dramatically. Thus it is both timely and appropriate to apply techniques of animation to the varied and important graphical aspects of calculus. AB a computer algebra system, Mathematica is an excellent tool for numerical and symbolic computation. It also has the power to generate striking and colorful graphical images and to animate them dynamically. The combination of these capabilities makes Mathematica a natural resource for exploring the changing world of calculus and approaches to mastering it. In addition, Mathematica notebooks are easy to edit, allowing flexible input for commands to Mathematica and stylish text for explanation to the reader. Much has been written about the use and importance of technology in the teaching and learning of calculus. We will not repeat the arguments or feign objectivity. We are enthusiastic believers in the value of a significant laboratory experience as part oflearning calculus, and we think Mathematica notebooks are a most appropriate and exciting way to provide that experience. The notebooks that follow represent our choice of laboratory topics for a course in one-variable calculus. They offer a balance between what we think belongs in a first-year calculus course and what lends itself well to exploration in a Mathematica laboratory setting.