Bücher veröffentlicht von QED Books

The CFR Griffin Memorial Fund was set up to assist science students - this monograph helps bridge the gap between school and university and provide first year College students with a ready guide to new concepts. Education in the natural sciences, particularly in practical studies requiring the acquisition of data either inside or outside the laboratory, uses two approaches. The approach first encountered, normally at school, demonstrates a known fact, e.g. that the extension of an elastic spring has a linear relationship to the load it carries. The purpose of the experiment is to demonstrate a particular aspect of that relationship. This "simple" approach has been very successfully used to teach many scientific laws but it is insufficient for preparing the scientist for practical work at college and later in professional life. At this stage it is far better to search for a quantitative description that fits the data reasonably well and has been used else where in science, engineering or medicine for describing processes that have a known explanation. Such descriptions may not exactly follow all the data, nor exactly follow all the data over its entire plot, i.e. they fit the data approximately, but they have known explanations. These descriptions and their use are called approximation functions. Thus one of the main reasons for using an approximation function is to link identifiable processes that may be relevant to the process being studied. Learning to use approximation functions, and designing experiments to do so, is what this book aims to assist.

The mathematics of surfaces is a fascinating subject - lying as it does at the heart of much architecture, art and maths, engineering and science. John Sharp's innovative use of sliceforms to explore the properties of surfaces is here produced in a systematic way, providing the reader the tools to build surfaces from paper to explore their mathematical properties. The extensive commentary explains the mathematics behind particular surfaces. Chapters on using computers to generate slices and sample templates complete the book. An invaluable exercise in practical geometry that will stimulate ideas for the student, professionals involved in modelling surfaces and the enthusiast. Contents:· Introduction and Basic Techniques· Contours and profiles· Properties and Types of Surfaces· Surfaces of Revolution· Ruled Surfaces· Surfaces from Equations: Algebraic surfaces· Polyhedra· Variations and explorations· Using the Computer· Templates and further resources

DeMathtifying - Demystifying MathematicsMathematics in schools is in crisis. Fewer and fewer higher level students, fewer and fewer teachers, fewer and fewer inspired students¿and the spiral will continue. As a man whose living is made solving problems, Ilan Samson is worried. So he has produced a key part of the solution¿ a readable text on mathematics. His contention is straightforward:People are afraid of mathematics not because they cannot do it but because they were given instructions without their reasons. These reasons are simple. Demathtifying is where you will find them.Covering the mathematics taught in school up to A-Level, the book is equally intended for students and adults - to discover that they, too, can lose their fear of maths.The experts agree:"Why is it that buses come in threes while good maths books never come along? Well not now. Ilan Samson takes a fresh look at mathematics - taking the mystery out and putting the magic back in. Entertaining, engaging and utterly enthralling. Maths as you never saw it before - make sure you hide it from the kids."Barry Lewis, Director Maths Year 2000; President, Mathematical Association. "¿most interesting and lively¿ ¿giving many insights and examples¿that make it a stimulating read...an excellent read for the maths teacher /lecturer to help with their teaching of mathematical topics [and] very helpful to a wider audience ¿written in a delightful style" Professor David BurghesAnd the publishers warn: We were unable to delete the jokes. So, be warned - reading this book may be fun.The author Ilan Samson, a physicist and Operations Research expert, now makes the rare existence from inventing products that actually get realized worldwide. This uncommon background should be a promising source of a fresh approach to breaking down the barrier between most people and Mathematics.