Mathematics Experiments

Owing to the advent of computers, experiments are becoming an increasingly important part of mathematics. This book provides guidance to students doing experiments in mathematics. The aim is to stimulate interest in mathematics through examples and experiments. Each experiment in the book starts with an interesting problem. The students are expected to work with these problems on computers, try to find the solutions themselves, and experience the scientific exploration in the process. The problems which the authors have chosen cover a wide spectrum in mathematics, ranging from calculus, number theory, coding and probability to geometry and chaos. They are introduced in a simple way and yet show great depth. The discussions are thorough but not lengthy. This book is useful not only to mathematics students, but also to students in all areas of sciences who are interested in learning some of the mathematical tools. It provides a hands-on approach to the most fundamental issues in mathematics -- an approach which may help to revolutionize the teaching of mathematics.

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).

All students need to master a variety of mathematical tools and concepts at the start of their university career. This distinctive book helps students learn these by doing. The approach is interactive, using experiments, performed in the symbolic algebra package Mathematica, to impart the fundamentals of many of the topics students encounter. A clear exposition of the topic accompanies every experiment.The modular style of the book allows students to study each topic independently. The sheer power of computer algebra software lets students develop and test their own conjectures, obtaining quick and instructive results. The software modules accompanying this course includes many custom functions designed to facilitate learning and testing process.Students who have some familiarity with the material will find their understanding refreshed and deepened through this approach. The exposure to modern computer algebra software will also benefit students in their subsequent studies, research, and professional careers.This classroom-tested book covers Calculus; Complex Numbers; Vectors and Matrices; Functions and Graphs; Trigonometry; and Series. It should therefore also be of use to many secondary school and high school students.Requires: Mathematica 2.2 or later (to be purchased separately); notebook interface. Software modules for this book are available with the hardback edition and via the Internet, or directly from the authors. For further details of the book, including licensing information for certain UK higher education institutions, visit the book's WWW site at metric.ma.ic.ac.uk/

The book is designed for use in school computer labs or with home computers running the computer algebra system Maple.

New mathematical insights and rigorous results are often gained through extensive experimentation using numerical examples or graphical images and analyzing them. Today computer experiments are an integral part of doing mathematics. This allows for a more systematic approach to conducting and replicating experiments. The authors address the role of

Classic, lively explanation of one of the byways of mathematics. Klein bottles, Moebius strips, projective planes, map coloring, problem of the Koenigsberg bridges, much more, described with clarity and wit.

This revised and updated second edition maintains the content and spirit of the first edition and includes a new chapter, "Recent Experiences", that provides examples of experimental mathematics that have come to light since the publication of the first edition in 2003. For more examples and insights, Experimentation in Mathematics: Computational P

This book provides students with decision making, critical thinking, skill building and fun-filled hands-on projects. All the mathematics projects included in the book are classroom tested which focus on concept development through creativity.The sete-by-step easy projects explained in this book help to remove the mathematics phobia commonly present in students and boost their self-confidence.Salient Features:Simple and lucid language Attractive illustrations/diagrams Creative skill-building ideas Concept-building ad decision-making projects Easy availability of project materialsIndividual and partner projects promoting cooperative learning and systematic reasoningProjects based on the latest CCE curriculum of the CBSE and other State Boards' standardsReinforcement of previous knowledgeThe book is a 'must read' for all, particularly the school children in the age group of 10 to 14 years.