Chaos, Fractals, and Dynamics: Computer Experiments in Mathematics [Paperback]

Robert L. Devaney (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 181 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley (1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 020123288X
• ISBN-13: 978-0201232882
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,295,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice introduction to Chaos and Fractals!, May 22, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Chaos, Fractals and Dynamics : Computer Experiments in Mathematics/Book and Video Cassette (Hardcover)

This is a nice little book whose target audience is high school students, beginning undergraduates, and
science teachers. Using many examples , Devaney leads the reader through ideas of iteration and
dynamical system. The latter half of the book deals with the connection between chaos and the science of
fractals. The readers are encouraged to explore the various facets of chaos and fractals using simple
computer programs (many sample source codes are peppered throughout the book). In addition to the
book, there is a couple of companion video tapes that are also highly instructive and serve as good
introduction to chaos and fractals. The first video, Chaos, Fractals and Dynamics, bears the same name as
the book and brings to life many of the examples mentioned in the book in a manner that is not possible via
the static book format. The visual highlight occurs when Devaney shows beautiful animations of the Julia
set. If this doesn't get the students excited, I don't know what will! The second video, Transition to Chaos,
describes the period-doubling approach to chaos using the now standard quadratic map. There is a nice
discussion about the relationship between the period-doubling bifurcation and the Mandelbrot and Julia
sets.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars helpful, easy to understand, straightforward, January 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chaos, Fractals, and Dynamics: Computer Experiments in Mathematics (Paperback)

This book provides an excellent framework for understanding chaotic systems, whether for the novice or the experienced fractal scientist. The diagrams in particular helped elucidate the concepts presented. Science made simple without being dummed down - well done!