The Facts on File Dictionary of Mathematics (Facts on File Science Library) [Hardcover]

John Daintith (Editor), John O. E. Clark (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0816039135 | ISBN-13: 978-0816039135 | Publication Date: April 1999 | Edition: 3rd

Completely revised and expanded, The Facts On File Dictionary of Mathematics is clear, concise, and informative. Over 200 new terms have been included with an emphasis on those in applied mathematics and computer science.

Over 200 new entries cover: Fractal Mandelbrot set Chaos Theory Computer graphics Hypertext Bezler curve and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These four titles all expand upon the second editions, released in 1988-89; each adds between 200 and 300 terms to keep the contents current, bringing the total number of entries up to approximately 3000 per volume. As in the previous editions, the definitions are concise and readable, targeted to the high school or undergraduate science student. Definitions range in length from a few lines in most cases to several paragraphs for more important or abstract terms. As with most technical dictionaries, etymological or pronunciation information is not provided, though line drawings enhance several of the definitions (approximately 50 per dictionary, double that in Mathematics). The use of British spellings, a drawback to the previous editions, has been eliminated here. Daintith, editor of three of the volumes, is a former research chemist in Great Britain. He is joined by Hine (life science editor of the Larousse Encyclopedia), science writer and editor Clark, and approximately a dozen contributors per dictionary. Each dictionary is supplemented by appropriate appendixes: taxonomic tables and amino acids (Biology); a periodic table, elemental information, fundamental particles, and constants (Chemistry); much the same for Physics; and conversion factors and useful symbols, formulae, and powers and roots (Mathematics). These are fine first references for the most common terms and concepts in their fields, filling a niche at the low-cost end of the market just above most concise subject dictionaries. Recommended for high school and undergraduate libraries.
-Wade Lee, Univ. of Toledo Libs., OH
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...excellent use of cross references making it quick and easy to find a particular word..." -- Reference Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File; 3rd edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816039135
• ISBN-13: 978-0816039135
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,269,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Facts on File Dictionary of Mathematics, 3rd Edition, July 3, 2004

By 

Steven L. Shippee (Olympia, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Facts on File Dictionary of Mathematics, Revised Edition (Paperback)

The Facts on File Dictionary of Mathematics, 3rd Edition, does have a few mistakes, and my daughter Elisabeth Shippee has had fun finding them. We have corresponded with the author(s) once in 2003 and they promptly responded with a detailed email; and we just sent them another email and expect a reply shortly.

A handy reference book, with some mistakes, yes, but these are acknowledged by the author(s), to be fixed in a later edition. A good buy based upon the authors' willingness to follow up on correspondence regarding the book.

Steven Shippee
[e-mail]

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Several Mistakes, March 22, 2003

By 

1stein "smartprimate" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Facts on File Dictionary of Mathematics, Revised Edition (Paperback)

I read this book in order to review my mathematical knowledge and discovered 16 mistakes. Some were typos ( => was used where <=> was needed.); some were factual (a kilometer "... approximating to 1.609 miles."); and some were mathematical (p. 47 "countable (denumerable)" The set of rational numbers, for example, is countable..."; p. 54 "denumerable set" "The set of rational numbers, on the other hand, is not denumerable..."). I emailed the editor and got no response. I found these in the 3rd edition paperback.