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? Why does light move through glass in the least amount of time possible? How can lost hikers find their way out of a forest? What will rainbows look like in the future? Why do soap bubbles have a shape that gives them the least area? By combining...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Nahin, Paul J
Lenguaje:eng
Publicado: Princeton Univ. Press 2003
Materias:
Mathematical Physics and Mathematics
Acceso en línea:http://cds.cern.ch/record/1140517
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author Nahin, Paul J
author_facet Nahin, Paul J
author_sort Nahin, Paul J
collection CERN
description What is the best way to photograph a speeding bullet? Why does light move through glass in the least amount of time possible? How can lost hikers find their way out of a forest? What will rainbows look like in the future? Why do soap bubbles have a shape that gives them the least area? By combining the mathematical history of extrema with contemporary examples, Paul J. Nahin answers these intriguing questions and more in this engaging and witty volume. He shows how life often works at the extremes--with values becoming as small (or as large) as possible--and how mathematicians over the centuri
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spelling cern-11405172021-04-22T01:42:16Zhttp://cds.cern.ch/record/1140517engNahin, Paul JWhen least is best: how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possibleMathematical Physics and MathematicsWhat is the best way to photograph a speeding bullet? Why does light move through glass in the least amount of time possible? How can lost hikers find their way out of a forest? What will rainbows look like in the future? Why do soap bubbles have a shape that gives them the least area? By combining the mathematical history of extrema with contemporary examples, Paul J. Nahin answers these intriguing questions and more in this engaging and witty volume. He shows how life often works at the extremes--with values becoming as small (or as large) as possible--and how mathematicians over the centuriPrinceton Univ. Pressoai:cds.cern.ch:11405172003
spellingShingle Mathematical Physics and Mathematics
Nahin, Paul J
When least is best: how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible
title 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
title_fullStr When least is best: how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible
title_full_unstemmed When least is best: how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible
title_short When least is best: how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible
title_sort when least is best: how mathematicians discovered many clever ways to make things as small (or as large) as possible
topic Mathematical Physics and Mathematics
url http://cds.cern.ch/record/1140517
work_keys_str_mv AT nahinpaulj whenleastisbesthowmathematiciansdiscoveredmanycleverwaystomakethingsassmalloraslargeaspossible

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