Conics (Dolciani Mathematical Expositions) [Hardcover]

Keith Kendig (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0883853353 | ISBN-13: 978-0883853351 | Publication Date: June 1, 2005

A CD containing 36 applets packaged with the book. This book engages the reader in a journey of discovery through a spirited discussion among three characters: Philosopher, Teacher and Student. Throughout the book, Philosopher pursues his dream of a unified theory of conics, where exceptions are banished. With a helpful teacher and example-hungry student, the trio soon finds that conics reveal much of their beauty when viewed over the complex numbers. In their odyssey, they uncover a goldmine of unsuspected results. They experience a series of “Aha!” moments as they stumble upon living brothers to familiar conics objects like foci and directrices. They also discover a normally-unseen ellipse spanning the gap between the branches of any hyperbola. On the applied side, they learn how two interfering wave sources create systems of hyperbolas; these are used in making astonishingly precise astronomical observations. All these discoveries are profusely illustrated with pictures, worked-out examples, a generous selection of exercises, and a CD containing 36 applets. If you've ever needed a conics formula for area, eccentricity, curvature and the like, look in the formula appendix. Here are dozens of useful formulas-a set for each of eight different ways of looking at a conic: as a cone slice; as the path of a planet moving under the influence of a fixed sun; constructed using two stakes and string; plus five other sets. CONICS is written in an easy, conversational style, and many historical tidbits and other points of interest are scattered throughout the text. Many students can self-study the book without outside help. This book is ideal for anyone having a little exposure to linear algebra and complex numbers. System Requirements for running the applets 128 MB of RAM Windows: Pentium 4: Windows NT/2000, or Windows XP Macintosh: G4 or G5 processor: Mac OS X v. 10.3.4 or later Safari browser recommended for the Mac

Editorial Reviews

Review

This highly commendable work brings fresh perspective and astonishing new insight to its venerable subject. --Basil Gordon, UCLA

Book Description

Conics is written in an easy, conversational style, and many historical tidbits and other points of interest are scattered throughout the text. Many students can self-study the book without outside help. This book is ideal for anyone having a little exposure to linear algebra and complex numbers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: The Mathematical Association of America (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883853353
• ISBN-13: 978-0883853351
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #966,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Author gets in the way of the story, March 26, 2011

By 

Jerry - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conics (Dolciani Mathematical Expositions) (Hardcover)

This book is a treasure of information about conics, hyperbola, sphere etc. It is just a little above me, a Cal III student but with persistence I can learn a little here and there. Sadly, it is difficult to read; the author gets in the way. The author is trying too hard to be a narrative writer with dialog between the Philosopher, the Teacher and the Student. On numerous occasions he says things like 'This is interesting...' Any one who has taken a beginning writers course is taught 'Don't say "This is interesting..."; just say what you have to say and the reader would find it interesting.'

In addition, he insists on putting historical pieces throughout the text. The dialog and historical boxes get in the way of the ellipses, the concentric circles, the radii...

This is a shame: I wonder how many readers, like me, were turned away and unable to make it through the book.