Introduction to the Calculus of Variations.

Science & Math

Sagan, Hans

Mathematics

MCGRAW HILL INC @

The subject of space-filling curves has fascinated mathematicians for over a century and has intrigued many generations of students of mathematics. Working in this area is like skating on the edge of reason. Unfortunately, no comprehensive treatment has ever been attempted other than the gallant effort by W. Sierpiriski in 1912. At that time, the subject was still in its infancy and the most interesting and perplexing results were still to come. Besides, Sierpiriski's paper was written in Polish and published in a journal that is not readily accessible (Sierpiriski [2]). Most of the early literature on the subject is in French, German, and Polish, providing an additional raison d'etre for a comprehensive treatment in English. While there was, understandably, some intensive research activity on this subject around the turn of the century, contributions have, nevertheless, continued up to the present and there is no end in sight, indicating that the subject is still very much alive. The recent interest in fractals has refocused interest on space filling curves, and the study of fractals has thrown some new light on this small but venerable part of mathematics. This monograph is neither a textbook nor an encyclopedic treatment of the subject nor a historical account, but it is a little of each. While it may lend structure to a seminar or pro-seminar, or be useful as a supplement in a course on topology or mathematical analysis, it is primarily intended for self-study by the aficionados of classical analysis.

Space-Filling Curves (Universitext)

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Gardening & Landscape Design

Springer

Integral and Differential Calculus

John Wiley

This well-known text uses a limited number of basic concepts and techniques — Hamilton's principle, the theory of the first variation and Bernoulli's separation method — to develop complete solutions to linear boundary value problems associated with second order partial differential equations such as the problems of the vibrating string, the vibrating membrane, and heat conduction. It is directed to advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in mathematics, applied mathematics, physics, and engineering who have completed a course in advanced calculus. In the first three chapters, Professor Sagan introduces Hamilton's principle and the theory of the first variation; he then discusses the representation of the vibrating string, the vibrating membrane and heat conduction (without convection) by partial differential equations. Bernoulli's separation method and infinite series solutions of homogeneous boundary value problems are introduced as a means for solving these problems. The next three chapters take up Fourier series, self-adjoint boundary value problems, Legendre polynomials, and Bessel functions. The concluding three chapters address the characterization of eigenvalues by a variational principle; spherical harmonics, and the solution of the Schroedinger equation for the hydrogen atom; and the nonhomogeneous boundary value problem. Professor Sagan concludes most sections of this excellent text with selected problems (solutions provided for even-numbered problems) to reinforce the reader's grasp of the theories and techniques presented.

Boundary and Eigenvalue Problems in Mathematical Physics (Dover Books on Physics)

Dover `

". . . eminently suitable as a text for an introductory course: the style is pleasant; the prerequisites are kept to a minimum . . . and the pace of the development is appropriate for most students at the senior or first year graduate level." — American Mathematical Monthly The purpose of this text is to lay a broad foundation for an understanding of the problems of the calculus of variations and its many methods and techniques, and to prepare readers for the study of modern optimal control theory.The treatment is limited to a thorough discussion of single-integral problems in one or more unknown functions, where the integral is employed in the riemannian sense. The first three chapters deal with variational problems without constraints. Chapter 4 is a self-contained treatment of the homogeneous problem in the two-dimensional plane. In Chapter 5, the minimum principle of Pontryagin as it applies to optimal control problems of nonpredetermined duration, where the state variables satisfy an autonomous system of first-order equations, is developed to the extent possible by classical means within the general framework of the Hamilton-Jacobi theory. Chapter 6 is devoted to a derivation of the multiplier rule for the problem of Mayer with fixed and variable endpoints and its application to the problem of Lagrange and the isoperimetric problem. In the last chapter, Legendre's necessary condition for a weak relative minimum and a sufficient condition for a weak relative minimum are derived within the framework of the theory of the second variation. This book, which includes many strategically placed problems and over 400 exercises, is directed to advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a background in advanced calculus and intermediate differential equations, and is adaptable to either a one- or two-semester course on the subject.

Introduction to the Calculus of Variations (Dover Books on Mathematics)

Dover Publications

Beat the odds: Microcomputer simulations of casino games (The Hayden microcomputer series)

Computers & Technology

Computer Science

Hayden Book Co.

Calculus Accompanied on the Apple

Pearson College Div

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