MSC: Primary 26; Secondary 11; 41
Print ISBN: 978-0-8218-3750-4
Product Code: ACALC
List Price: $57.00
AMS Member Price: $45.60
MAA Member Price: $51.30
Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4704-1113-8
Product Code: ACALC.E
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Supplemental Materials
Approximately Calculus
Share this pageShahriar Shahriari
2015 Recipient of the MAA University Teaching of Mathematics Award
Is there always a prime number between
\(n\) and \(2n\)? Where, approximately, is the
millionth prime? And just what does calculus have to do with
answering either of these questions? It turns out that calculus has a
lot to do with both questions, as this book can show you.
The theme of the book is approximations. Calculus is a powerful
tool because it allows us to approximate complicated functions with
simpler ones. Indeed, replacing a function locally with a
linear—or higher order—approximation is at the heart of
calculus. The real star of the book, though, is the task of
approximating the number of primes up to a number \(x\). This
leads to the famous Prime Number Theorem—and to the answers to
the two questions about primes.
While emphasizing the role of approximations in calculus, most
major topics are addressed, such as derivatives, integrals, the
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, sequences, series, and so on.
However, our particular point of view also leads us to many unusual
topics: curvature, Padé approximations, public key
cryptography, and an analysis of the logistic equation, to name a
few.
The reader takes an active role in developing the material by
solving problems. Most topics are broken down into a series of
manageable problems, which guide you to an understanding of the
important ideas. There is also ample exposition to fill in background
material and to get you thinking appropriately about the concepts.
Approximately Calculus is intended for the reader who has
already had an introduction to calculus, but wants to engage the
concepts and ideas at a deeper level. It is suitable as a text for an
honors or alternative second semester calculus course.
Readership
Undergraduate students interested in calculus and number theory.
Reviews & Endorsements
This fascinating book is a novel approach to undergraduate analysis, which combines most topics in single variable calculus with some elementary number theory. ... It is very well written and fully engages readers in its developments, often beginning with examples and leading them to develop generalizations and, ultimately, theorems and proofs. ... An attractive book, well worth consulting for ideas on presenting topics, or for examples.
-- J.H. Ellison, Choice
The book is very well written and contains many references to articles in journals that are accessible to students ...
-- MAA Reviews
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Approximately Calculus
- Cover Cover11 free
- Title page iii4
- Copyright iv5 free
- Dedication v6
- Contents vii8 free
- Preface xiii14 free
- Chapter 1: Patterns and induction 120 free
- Chapter 2: Divisibility 1736
- Chapter 3: Primes 3352
- Chapter 4: Derivatives and approximations of functions 5978
- Chapter 5: Antiderivatives and integration 91110
- Chapter 6: Distribution of primes 111130
- Chapter 7: Log, exponential, and the inverse trigonometric functions 115134
- Chapter 8: The Mean Value Theorem and approximations 131150
- Chapter 9: Linearization topics 147166
- Chapter 10: Defining integrals, areas, and arclengths 155174
- Chapter 11: Improper integrals and techniques of integration 167186
- Chapter 12: The Prime Number Theorem 175194
- Chapter 13: Local approximation of functions and integral estimations 183202
- Chapter 14: Sequences and series 195214
- Chapter 15: Power series and Taylor series 223242
- Chapter 16: More on series 243262
- Chapter 17: Limits of functions 251270
- Chapter 18: Differential equations 259278
- Chapter 19: Logical arguments 271290
- Hints for selected problems 277296
- Bibliography 283302
- Index 287306
- Back Cover Back Cover1314