Peter Lax Mathematician

This book is a biography of one of the most famous and influential living mathematicians, Peter Lax. He is virtually unique as a preeminent leader in both pure and applied mathematics, fields which are often seen as competing and incompatible. Although he has been an academic for all of his adult life, his biography is not without drama and tragedy. Lax and his family barely escaped to the U.S. from Budapest before the Holocaust descended. He was one of the youngest scientists to work on the Manhattan Project. He played a leading role in coping with the infamous "kidnapping" of the NYU mathematics department's computer, in 1970. The list of topics in which Lax made fundamental and long-lasting contributions is remarkable: scattering theory, solitons, shock waves, and even classical analysis, to name a few. His work has been honored many times, including the Abel Prize in 2005. The book concludes with an account of his most important mathematical contributions, made accessible without heavy prerequisites. Reuben Hersh has written extensively on mathematics. His book with Philip Davis, The Mathematical Experience, won the National Book Award in science. Hersh is emeritus professor of mathematics at the University of New Mexico.

This set features Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Second Edition (978-0-471-75156-4) Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Second Edition presents linear algebra as the theory and practice of linear spaces and linear maps with a unique focus on the analytical aspects as well as the numerous applications of the subject. In addition to thorough coverage of linear equations, matrices, vector spaces, game theory, and numerical analysis, the Second Edition features student-friendly additions that enhance the book's accessibility, including expanded topical coverage in the early chapters, additional exercises, and solutions to selected problems. Beginning chapters are devoted to the abstract structure of finite dimensional vector spaces, and subsequent chapters address convexity and the duality theorem as well as describe the basics of normed linear spaces and linear maps between normed spaces. Further updates and revisions have been included to reflect the most up-to-date coverage of the topic, including: The QR algorithm for finding the eigenvalues of a self-adjoint matrix The Householder algorithm for turning self-adjoint matrices into tridiagonal form The compactness of the unit ball as a criterion of finite dimensionality of a normed linear space Additionally, eight new appendices have been added and cover topics such as: the Fast Fourier Transform; the spectral radius theorem; the Lorentz group; the compactness criterion for finite dimensionality; the characterization of commentators; proof of Liapunov's stability criterion; the construction of the Jordan Canonical form of matrices; and Carl Pearcy's elegant proof of Halmos' conjecture about the numerical range of matrices. Clear, concise, and superbly organized, Linear Algebra and Its Applications, Second Edition serves as an excellent text for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in linear algebra. Its comprehensive treatment of the subject also makes it an ideal reference or self-study for industry professionals. and Functional Analysis (978-0-471-55604-6) both by Peter D. Lax.

This introduction to linear algebra by world-renowned mathematician Peter Lax is unique in its emphasis on the analytical aspects of the subject as well as its numerous applications. The book grew out of Dr. Lax's course notes for the linear algebra classes he teaches at New York University. Geared to graduate students as well as advanced undergraduates, it assumes only limited knowledge of linear algebra and avoids subjects already heavily treated in other textbooks. And while it discusses linear equations, matrices, determinants, and vector spaces, it also in-cludes a number of exciting topics that are not covered elsewhere, such as eigenvalues, the Hahn-Banach theorem, geometry, game theory, and numerical analysis. The first four chapters are devoted to the abstract structure of finite dimensional vector spaces. Subsequent chapters deal with determinants as a blend of geometry, algebra, and general spectral theory. Euclidean structure is used to explain the notion of selfadjoint mappings and their spectral theory. Dr. Lax moves on to the calculus of vector and matrix valued functions of a single variable—a neglected topic in most undergraduate programs—and presents matrix inequalities from a variety of perspectives. Fundamentals—including duality, linear mappings, and matrices Determinant, trace, and spectral theory Euclidean structure and the spectral theory of selfadjoint maps Calculus of vector and matrix valued functions Matrix inequalities Kinematics and dynamics Convexity and the duality theorem Normed linear spaces, linear mappings between normed spaces, and positive matrices Iterative methods for solving systems of linear equations Eight appendices devoted to important related topics, including special determinants, Pfaff's theorem, symplectic matrices, tensor product, lattices, fast matrix multiplication, Gershgorin's theorem, and multiplicity of eigenvalues Later chapters cover convexity and the duality theorem, describe the basics of normed linear spaces and linear maps between normed spaces, and discuss the dominant eigenvalue of matrices whose entries are positive or merely non-negative. The final chapter is devoted to numerical methods and describes Lanczos' procedure for inverting a symmetric, positive definite matrix. Eight appendices cover important topics that do not fit into the main thread of the book. Clear, concise, and superbly organized, Linear Algebra is an excellent text for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses and also serves as a handy professional reference.

A renowned mathematician who considers himself both applied and theoretical in his approach, Peter Lax has spent most of his professional career at NYU, making significant contributions to both mathematics and computing. He has written several important published works and has received numerous honors including the National Medal of Science, the Lester R. Ford Award, the Chauvenet Prize, the Semmelweis Medal, the Wiener Prize, and the Wolf Prize. Several students he has mentored have become leaders in their fields. Two volumes span the years from 1952 up until 1999, and cover many varying topics, from functional analysis, partial differential equations, and numerical methods to conservation laws, integrable systems and scattering theory. After each paper, or collection of papers, is a commentary placing the paper in context and where relevant discussing more recent developments. Many of the papers in these volumes have become classics and should be read by any serious student of these topics. In terms of insight, depth, and breadth, Lax has few equals. The reader of this selecta will quickly appreciate his brilliance as well as his masterful touch. Having this collection of papers in one place allows one to follow the evolution of his ideas and mathematical interests and to appreciate how many of these papers initiated topics that developed lives of their own.

A renowned mathematician who considers himself both applied and theoretical in his approach, Peter Lax has spent most of his professional career at NYU, making significant contributions to both mathematics and computing. He has written several important published works and has received numerous honors including the National Medal of Science, the Lester R. Ford Award, the Chauvenet Prize, the Semmelweis Medal, the Wiener Prize, and the Wolf Prize. Several students he has mentored have become leaders in their fields. Two volumes span the years from 1952 up until 1999, and cover many varying topics, from functional analysis, partial differential equations, and numerical methods to conservation laws, integrable systems and scattering theory. After each paper, or collection of papers, is a commentary placing the paper in context and where relevant discussing more recent developments. Many of the papers in these volumes have become classics and should be read by any serious student of these topics. In terms of insight, depth, and breadth, Lax has few equals. The reader of this selecta will quickly appreciate his brilliance as well as his masterful touch. Having this collection of papers in one place allows one to follow the evolution of his ideas and mathematical interests and to appreciate how many of these papers initiated topics that developed lives of their own.

Burstein, and Lax's Calculus with Applications and Computing offers meaningful explanations of the important theorems of single variable calculus. Written with students in mathematics, the physical sciences, and engineering in mind, and revised with their help, it shows that the themes of calculation, approximation, and modeling are central to mathematics and the main ideas of single variable calculus. This edition brings the innovation of the first edition to a new generation of students. New sections in this book use simple, elementary examples to show that when applying calculus concepts to approximations of functions, uniform convergence is more natural and easier to use than point-wise convergence. As in the original, this edition includes material that is essential for students in science and engineering, including an elementary introduction to complex numbers and complex-valued functions, applications of calculus to modeling vibrations and population dynamics, and an introduction to probability and information theory.

Photographs accompanied by autobiographical text written by each mathematician.

A self-contained introduction to the geometry of numbers.