Book Details :
Title : It's a Nonlinear World (Springer Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics and Technology)
Author : Richard H. Enns
Hardcover : 396 pages
Publisher : Springer; 1st Edition. edition (October 15, 2010)
Language : English
ISBN-10 : 0387753389
ISBN-13 : 978-0387753386
Size : 13.58 MB.
Type : Pdf.
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Book Description :

Drawing examples from mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, economics, medicine, politics, and sports, this book illustrates how nonlinear dynamics plays a vital role in our world. Examples cover a wide range from the spread and possible control of communicable diseases, to the lack of predictability in long-range weather forecasting, to competition between political groups and nations.

After an introductory chapter that explores what it means to be nonlinear, the remainder of Part I covers nonlinear mathematical concepts such as fixed points, limit cycles, fractals, chaos, bifurcations, and solitons, and nonlinear diagnostic tools such as fixed point analysis, bifurcation diagrams, and Lyapunov exponents, to name a few. Part II of the text presents illustrative examples of nonlinear dynamics that are highly relevant to the contemporary world. At the end of each chapter, a wide variety of problems are presented which extend the ideas developed in the chapter as well as allow the reader to explore other aspects of our nonlinear world. The mathematical level of the text assumes good working knowledge of basic calculus and prior exposure to ordinary differential equations and the wave and diffusion equations.

The book may be used at the undergraduate or graduate level to prepare science and engineering students for problems in the "real world" or for self-study by practicing scientists and engineers. The more casual reader can simply read the book for intellectual enjoyment.

The text is filled with examples from all areas the obvious, like physics, engineering, and chemistry, the likely, such as biology and economics, and the more unusual, like politics and sports. … Practicing scientists and engineers who would like a detailed exposure to dynamical systems (colloquially known as chaos theory) might use the volume as a desk reference or for self-study. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.