Customer Reviews

Introduction to Discrete Dynamical Systems and Chaos (Wiley Series in Discrete Mathematics and Optimization)

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The Introduction to Discrete Dynamical Systems and Chaos is an excellent text for those who just start sturying descrete dynamical systems and for those who already have some knowledge in the field. The book can be used as a textbook or as a guide for individual studies. In the first case the instructors will find a set of carefully chosen problems at the end of each chapter and several interesting projects for the students. While the first part of the book can be understood by a person without extensive mathematical background, the second part deals with topics such as nonlinear dynamical systems and chaotic behavior using Banach contraction principle, fractal dimension, etc.

To illustrate the use of dynamical systems the book also describes few very common models: blood-sell population, predator-prey, Lorenz Model, and neural networks.

The appendix on Mathematica and Dynamical Systems can be used by students to work on the sample projects offered by the author or by scientists to model and investigate the behavior of variety of dynamical system.

This text is about chaos and discrete dynamical systems, but the organization, presentation and discourse of these topics in this wonderful edition are anything but chaotic. The writing and context of the ideas laid out bristles with personality and clear focus for presenting the student with adequate examples and detail. This book serves as a superb introduction to the area, and is rich with a wide variety of situations and problems that will motivate the novice and still challenge those with background. I signed on to teach an introductory course on Chaos at New Mexico Highlands University (I'm am one of three math faculty at this institution). I spent considerable time searching for a text that adequately addressed chaos and dynamical systems, that was challenging and yet personable and reader friendly. We have a wide disparity of math students at NMHU, particularly with regard to background, ability and vocational aspirations. It was important to use a text, I felt, that did not sacrifice detail, but at the same time did not pre-suppose overly technical sophistication. Most of the texts that I sampled, were quite terse, demanding or pedagogically constipated. When I came across MArtelli's text I was struck by the absence of these defects and then by the simple structure and sequence of topics that patiently build and reinforce concepts. The author's enthusiasm for the material comes through clearly and reaction from students I test-sampled echoed this feeling. In fact, both students have decided to enroll in my spring course - I believe their postiive response to this text was more than a contributing factor. In exchange for their time, I promised I would relay encouragement for all who are considering similar course offerings and a companion text that supports and reinforces the excitement of this area of mathematics. This book is a great resource. Bravo, Mario !!

This text is about chaos and discrete dynamical systems, but the organization, presentation and discourse of these topics in this wonderful edition are anything but chaotic. The writing and context of the ideas laid out bristles with personality and clear focus for presenting the student with adequate examples and detail. This book serves as a superb introduction to the area, and is rich with a wide variety of situations and problems that will motivate the novice and still challenge those with background. I signed on to teach an introductory course on Chaos at New Mexico Highlands University (I'm am one of three math faculty at this institution). I spent considerable time searching for a text that adequately addressed chaos and dynamical systems, that was challenging and yet personable and reader friendly. We have a wide disparity of math students at NMHU, particularly with regard to background, ability and vocational aspirations. It was important to use a text, I felt, that did not sacrifice detail, but at the same time did not pre-suppose overly technical sophistication. Most of the texts that I sampled, were quite terse, demanding or pedagogically constipated. When I came across MArtelli's text I was struck by the absence of these defects and then by the simple structure and sequence of topics that patiently build and reinforce concepts. The author's enthusiasm for the material comes through clearly and reaction from students I test-sampled echoed this feeling. In fact, both students have decided to enroll in my spring course - I believe their postiive response to this text was more than a contributing factor. In exchange for their time, I promised I would relay encouragement for all who are considering similar course offerings and a companion text that supports and reinforces the excitement of this area of mathematics. This book is a great resource. Bravo, Mario !!

It is soo hard to understand the theorems in this book it's ridiculous. You will only like this book if you already know the material well...e.i. it's useless for you if you want to learn something. My whole class is having trouble with this book. I'm writing this review cuz i'm so angry at this book.