Everyday Calculus
(eBook)

"American Association for the Advancement of Science's Books for General Audiences and Young Adults" "One of American Association for the Advancement of Science's Books for General Audiences and Young Adults 2014" Oscar E. Fernandez is assistant professor of mathematics at Wellesley College. He is the author of The Calculus of Happiness (Princeton). A fun look at calculus in our everyday lives Calculus. For some of us, the word conjures up memories of ten-pound textbooks and visions of tedious abstract equations. And yet, in reality, calculus is fun and accessible, and surrounds us everywhere we go. In Everyday Calculus, Oscar Fernandez demonstrates that calculus can be used to explore practically any aspect of our lives, including the most effective number of hours to sleep and the fastest route to get to work. He also shows that calculus can be both useful-determining which seat at the theater leads to the best viewing experience, for instance-and fascinating-exploring topics such as time travel and the age of the universe. Throughout, Fernandez presents straightforward concepts, and no prior mathematical knowledge is required. For advanced math fans, the mathematical derivations are included in the appendixes. The book features a new preface that alerts readers to new interactive online content, including demonstrations linked to specific figures in the book as well as an online supplement. Whether you're new to mathematics or already a curious math enthusiast, Everyday Calculus will convince even die-hard skeptics to view this area of math in a whole new way. "Fernandez's witty, delightful approach makes for a winning introduction to the wonderland of math behind the scenes of everyday life." "Written in a bright conversational tone, [Everyday Calculus] wonderfully integrates calculus into everyday life." "Fernandez is a delightfully quirky writer and his bookEveryday Calculusis lighthearted and compelling." "The author earnestly and excitedly seeks to make the principles of calculus near and natural, without the intimidation of a five-pound textbook dense with equations. . . . Fernandez invites the reader along on this work day and telegraphs an enthusiasm for seeing calculus, with hints of differential equations, presented to him. This excitement will communicate itself to the math enthusiast becoming acquainted with calculus through the author's style, which is both lively and confident."---Tom Schulte, MAA Reviews "Written in a bright conversational tone, this book wonderfully integrates calculus into everyday life." "[T]he book is perfect for a reader who really wants to know what mathematics are governing our lives and who wants to learn and understand or polish up his rusty knowledge of these mathematics."---A. Bultheel, European Mathematical Society "A delightful read. [Everyday Calculus] will make you laugh and capture your imagination. . . . [A] triumph in the pursuit of the lofty goal of comprehending the world." "Fernandez presents a broad array of ordinary events like REM sleep, drinking coffee, commuting to work, setting aside money for retirement, catching a cold, enjoying tandoori chicken, and watching a movie. . . . [T]hen ties each aspect to pertinent mathematics. . . . As the subtitle of the book suggests, the thrust is more one of 'discovering the hidden math all around us' rather than showing 'how mathematics is used,' which provides an honest and very pleasurable journey." "The book offers in clear and concise fashion much of the material found in a traditional calculus textbook, but presents it beginning with a real world observation and then developing the mathematics needed to understand the observation." "A very captivating read, and certainly contains something for everyone. . . [E]asy to drop into for individual chapters, or to read when you have a couple hours spare. [Everyday Calculus] will certainly open the eyes of any reader who wishes to appreciate the mathematics and ca