When least is best: how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible
"What is the best way to photograph a speeding bullet? How can lost hikers find their way out of a forest? Why does light move through glass in the least amount of time possible? 'When Least is Best' combines the mathematical history of extrema with contemporary examples to answer the...
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| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Princeton ; Oxford
Princeton University Press
2021
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| Series: | Princeton science library
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| Subjects: | |
| Summary: | "What is the best way to photograph a speeding bullet? How can lost hikers find their way out of a forest? Why does light move through glass in the least amount of time possible? 'When Least is Best' combines the mathematical history of extrema with contemporary examples to answer these intriguing questions and more. Paul Nahin shows how life often works at the extremes -- with values becoming as small (or as large) as possible -- and he considers how mathematicians over the centuries, including Descartes, Fermat, and Kepler, havae grappled with these problems of minima and maxima. Throughout, Nahin examines entertaining conundrums, such as how to build the shortest bridge possible between two towns, how to vary speed during a race, and how to make the perfect basketball shot. Moving from medieval writings and moder calculus to the field of optimization, the engaging and witty explorations of 'When Least is Best' will delight math enthusiasts everywhere" -- from publisher |
| Physical Description: | xxxii, 372 Seiten Illustrationen 22 cm |
| ISBN: | 9780691218762 |
Staff View
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| id | DE-604.BV047315561 |
| illustrated | Illustrated |
| index_date | 2024-07-03T17:27:29Z |
| indexdate | 2024-07-10T09:08:40Z |
| institution | BVB |
| isbn | 9780691218762 |
| language | English |
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| physical | xxxii, 372 Seiten Illustrationen 22 cm |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateSearch | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Princeton University Press |
| record_format | marc |
| series2 | Princeton science library |
| spelling | Nahin, Paul J. 1940- Verfasser (DE-588)136816614 aut When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible Paul J. Nahin ; with a new preface by the author Princeton ; Oxford Princeton University Press 2021 xxxii, 372 Seiten Illustrationen 22 cm txt rdacontent n rdamedia nc rdacarrier Princeton science library "What is the best way to photograph a speeding bullet? How can lost hikers find their way out of a forest? Why does light move through glass in the least amount of time possible? 'When Least is Best' combines the mathematical history of extrema with contemporary examples to answer these intriguing questions and more. Paul Nahin shows how life often works at the extremes -- with values becoming as small (or as large) as possible -- and he considers how mathematicians over the centuries, including Descartes, Fermat, and Kepler, havae grappled with these problems of minima and maxima. Throughout, Nahin examines entertaining conundrums, such as how to build the shortest bridge possible between two towns, how to vary speed during a race, and how to make the perfect basketball shot. Moving from medieval writings and moder calculus to the field of optimization, the engaging and witty explorations of 'When Least is Best' will delight math enthusiasts everywhere" -- from publisher Geschichte gnd rswk-swf Mathematik (DE-588)4037944-9 gnd rswk-swf Kombinatorik (DE-588)4031824-2 gnd rswk-swf Maxima and minima Mathematics / History Mathematics History Kombinatorik (DE-588)4031824-2 s Mathematik (DE-588)4037944-9 s Geschichte z DE-604 |
| spellingShingle | Nahin, Paul J. 1940- When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible Mathematik (DE-588)4037944-9 gnd Kombinatorik (DE-588)4031824-2 gnd |
| subject_GND | (DE-588)4037944-9 (DE-588)4031824-2 |
| title | When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible |
| title_auth | When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible |
| title_exact_search | When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible |
| title_exact_search_txtP | When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible |
| title_full | When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible Paul J. Nahin ; with a new preface by the author |
| title_fullStr | When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible Paul J. Nahin ; with a new preface by the author |
| title_full_unstemmed | When least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible Paul J. Nahin ; with a new preface by the author |
| title_short | When least is best |
| title_sort | when least is best how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small or as large as possible |
| title_sub | how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible |
| topic | Mathematik (DE-588)4037944-9 gnd Kombinatorik (DE-588)4031824-2 gnd |
| topic_facet | Mathematik Kombinatorik |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nahinpaulj whenleastisbesthowmathematiciansdiscoveredmanycleverwaystomakethingsassmalloraslargeaspossible |