Mathematical Constants

by Steven R. Finch

Overview

Steven Finch provides 136 essays, each devoted to a mathematical constant or a class of constants, from the well known to the highly exotic. This book is helpful both to readers seeking information about a specific constant, and to readers who desire a panoramic view of all constants coming from a particular field, for example, combinatorial enumeration or geometric optimization. Unsolved problems appear virtually everywhere as well. This work represents an outstanding scholarly attempt to bring together all significant mathematical constants in one place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521818056
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/18/2003
Series:	Encyclopedia of Mathematics and its Applications , #94
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	624
Product dimensions:	6.54(w) x 9.57(h) x 1.54(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Notation; 1. Well-known constants; 2. Constants associated with number theory; 3. Constants associated with analytic inequalities; 4. Constants associated with the approximation of functions; 5. Constants associated with enumerating discrete structures; 6. Constants associated with functional iteration; 7. Constants associated with complex analysis; 8. Constants associated with geometry; Table; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'Enormous fun, and you don't even have to follow any difficult arguments; a treasure-trove for the mathematical beachcomber.' The Mathematical Gazette

'I think all mathematicians should own this book...there are sections where the author conveys admirably his excitement over some unexpected and beautiful sequence of ideas. I pay the author the earnest compliment of stating that nearly every page in the book is an adventure.' The Mathematical Intelligencer

'Very accessible...The author's clear and engaging style makes the book a pleasure to read.' MAA Reviews

'This is a very useful book...The emphasis is on the mathematical origin of the constants and their interrelationships. The aim is always to be clear and complete, to motivate why a particular constant or idea is important, and to indicate exactly where in the literature one should look for rigorous proofs and further elaboration. This book should be in each mathematical library.' Monatshefte für Mathematik

'I consider this book to be an essential component of all mathematical libraries. I have placed it on my 'within the grasp' shelf and have strongly recommended to the college library that it be added to the reference collection.' Charles Ashbacher, amazon.com

‘Taken together, Mathematical Constants and Mathematical Constants II form a comprehensive and unique work that is a welcome addition to the mathematician’s reference library.' Steven R. Finch, Notices of the AMS

From the Publisher