Move over, Sherlock and Watson--the detective duo of Carmichael and Lennox shows how math smarts can crack even the most perplexing cases. In the entertaining short-story collectionL.A. Math, freelance investigator Freddy Carmichael meets colorful personalities throughout Los Angeles and encounters mysterious circumstances from embezzlement and robbery to murder. In each story, Freddy's deductive instincts--and the trusty math skills of his sidekick, Pete Lennox--solve the crime.

Featuring such glamorous locales as Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, and Santa Barbara, the fourteen short stories inL.A. Math take Freddy and Pete through various puzzles and challenges. In "A Change of Scene," Freddy has to figure out who is selling corporate secrets to a competitor--so he uses mathematical logic to uncover the culprit. In "The Winning Streak," conditional probability turns the tables on an unscrupulous bookie. And in "Message from a Corpse," the murderer of a wealthy widow is revealed through the rules of compound interest. It's everything you expect from the City of Angels--A-listers and wannabes, lovers and lawyers, heroes and villains. Readers will not only be entertained, but also gain practical mathematics knowledge, ranging from percentages and probability to set theory, statistics, and the mathematics of elections. For those who want to delve into mathematical subjects further, the book includes a supplementary section with more material.

Filled with intriguing stories, L.A. Math is a treat for lovers of romance, crime, or mathematics.

With classroom response systems (or CRSs, also known as Student Response Systems, Individual Response Systems, or, informally, “clickers”) in use in higher education for some 20 years, there is now both ample research and a wealth of examples and ideas to draw on for faculty who are contemplating their use, or exploring new ways to integrate them in their teaching.

This book presents a brief history of the development of CRSs and a survey of empirical research to provide a context for current best practices, and then presents seven chapters providing authentic, effective examples of the use of clickers across a wide range of academic disciplines, demonstrating how they can be effective in helping students to recognize their misconceptions and grasp fundamental concepts.

Like all pedagogical interventions, classroom response systems are no panacea, and the experienced contributors candidly describe avoidable pitfalls while demonstrating how clickers can deepen student learning and how, by providing instantaneous feedback, they enable teachers to make adjustments on the fly to better address student understandings or misunderstandings.

The final chapter explores pros and cons of response systems that use mobile devices and smart phones, and the book concludes with an annotated list of further resources, such as books, articles, and videos

With classroom response systems (or CRSs, also known as Student Response Systems, Individual Response Systems, or, informally, “clickers”) in use in higher education for some 20 years, there is now both ample research and a wealth of examples and ideas to draw on for faculty who are contemplating their use, or exploring new ways to integrate them in their teaching.

This book presents a brief history of the development of CRSs and a survey of empirical research to provide a context for current best practices, and then presents seven chapters providing authentic, effective examples of the use of clickers across a wide range of academic disciplines, demonstrating how they can be effective in helping students to recognize their misconceptions and grasp fundamental concepts.

Like all pedagogical interventions, classroom response systems are no panacea, and the experienced contributors candidly describe avoidable pitfalls while demonstrating how clickers can deepen student learning and how, by providing instantaneous feedback, they enable teachers to make adjustments on the fly to better address student understandings or misunderstandings.

The final chapter explores pros and cons of response systems that use mobile devices and smart phones, and the book concludes with an annotated list of further resources, such as books, articles, and videos

This monograph develops chaos theory from properties of the graphs inverse to the parabolic map of the interval [0, 2}, where the height at the midpoint x = 1 may be viewed as a time-like parameter, which together with the x-coordinate, provide the two parameters that uniquely characterize the parabola, and which are used throughout the monograph. There is only one basic mathematical operation used: function composition. The functions studied are the n-fold composition of the basic parabola with itself. However, it is the properties of the graph inverse to this n-fold composition that are the objects whose properties are developed. The reflection symmetry of the basic parabola through the vertical line x = 1 gives rise to two symmetry classes of inverse graphs: the inverse graphs and their conjugates. Quite remarkably, it turns out that that there exists, among all the inverse graphs and their conjugates, a completely deterministic class of inverse graphs and their conjugates. Deterministic in the sense that this class is uniquely determined for all values of the time-like parameter and the x-coordinate, the entire theory, of course, being highly nonlinear — it is polynomial in the time-like parameter and in the x-coordinate. The deterministic property and its implementation are keys to the argument that the system is a complex adaptive system in the sense that a few axioms lead to structures of unexpected richness.This monograph is about working out the many details that advance the notion that deterministic chaos theory, as realized by a complex adaptive system, is indeed a new body of mathematics that enriches our understanding of the world around us. But now the imagination is also opened to the possibility that the real universe is a complex adaptive system.

Wilfred Bion’s unpublished lectures at the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society and Institute in April in 1967 represent a unique opportunity for students either new to or continuing in the study of Bion’s unique psychoanalytic vertex. Here one can both read—and hear—Bion’s clear exposition of his clinical and theoretical thinking to an audience of primarily Freudian trained American analysts, most of whom were new to his ideas.

The first lecture sets out Bion’s ideas on “memory and desire” in a paper that set the benchmark in the origins of contemporary Kleinian clinical technique. Bion discusses the various factors that facilitate optimal listening receptivity in the analyst. In the second lecture, Bion defined projective identification, container/contained and “beta elements”—and how these ideas serve as an orienting template for the analyst’s understanding of "proto-mental" states of mind. In the third lecture, Bion gives extensive case illustrations of primarily borderline and psychotic patients primarily in terms of work that ushered in a new era of understanding of both borderline and narcissistic pathological organizations. In the final lecture, Bion takes up hallucinatory forms of experience and intersperses his more recent thoughts about the mystic and the Establishment.

'Our fascination with numbers begins when we are children, and continues, for most of us, throughout our lives. We start counting our fingers and toes, and end up balancing check books and calculating risk. So powerful is the appeal of numbers that many people ascribe to them a mystical significance. And there are some numbers whose importance even transcends the supernatural--these numbers work to explain our universe and how it behaves. In Cosmic Numbers, mathematics professor James Stein traces the discovery, evolution, and interrelationships of the great numbers in that define our world. Some numbers, like the speed of light and absolute zero, are well known to the general public. Others, such as Boltzmann's constant and the Chandrasekhar limit, are known only to those with a deep knowledge of science. But these numbers do far more than the average person might dare to imagine: they tell us how this world began, the way we were and the way we are, and what the future holds. Stein reveals the manner in which certain cosmic numbers came to light, the dramatis personae involved, and cutting-edge developments associated with these numbers. Many are the cornerstones of grand discoveries and theories. They represent landmarks in the history of intellectualachievement. And the stories of these numbers offer a novel understanding of physics, chemistry, astronomy, and ourselves. Much more than a gee-whiz collection of numbers, Cosmic Numbers illuminates why particular numbers are so important--both to scientists and to the rest of us. '--Provided by publisher.

Dimentichiamo l'algebra, la geometria, la trigonometria e il calcolo. Anche se non abbiamo una mente matematica, grazie agli insegnamenti di James Stein potremo sicuramente risparmiare soldi e vivere meglio solo usando i fondamenti dell'aritmetica imparati sui banchi di scuola. Con consigli utili e facili da applicare, infatti, l'autore ci spiega come la matematica possa aiutarci a risolvere tanti problemi pratici che dobbiamo affrontare tutti i giorni, dall'assicurazione auto al mutuo sulla casa. E non solo: l'algebra è fondamentale anche per rispondere a interrogativi e dubbi filosofici (quanto vale la vita umana in dollari? Quando finirà il mondo?). Allo stesso tempo, Stein ci illustra come riconoscere gli errori più comuni quando si parla di percentuali o si costruiscono argomentazioni logiche. A questo punto, però, spetta a noi porci una domanda: ci conviene davvero spendere soldi per comprare questo libro? Se ci lasciamo guidare dai numeri, facendo un semplice calcolo di costi e benefici, ci accorgeremo che di sicuro ne vale la pena... possiamo scommetterci.

The Geologic Time Scale 2012 is the framework for deciphering the history of our planet Earth. The authors have been at the forefront of chronostratigraphic research and initiatives to create an international geologic time scale for many years, and the charts in this book present the most up-to-date, international standard, as ratified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy and the International Union of Geological Sciences. This 2012 geologic time scale is an enhanced, improved and expanded version of the GTS2004, including chapters on planetary scales, the Cryogenian-Ediacaran periods/systems, a prehistory scale of human development, a survey of sequence stratigraphy, and an extensive compilation of stable-isotope chemostratigraphy.

This book is an essential reference for all geoscientists, including researchers, students, and petroleum and mining professionals. The presentation is non-technical and illustrated with numerous colour charts, maps and photographs. The book also includes a detachable wall chart of the complete time scale for use as a handy reference in the office, laboratory or field.

• The most detailed international geologic time scale available that contextualizes information in one single reference for quick desktop access.
• Gives insights in the construction, strengths, and limitations of the geological time scale that greatly enhances its function and its utility.
• Aids understanding by combining with the mathematical and statistical methods to scaled composites of global succession of events.
• Meets the needs of a range of users at various points in the workflow (researchers extracting linear time from rock records, students recognizing the geologic stage by their content).

'Sometimes called the 'miracle diet,' the ketogenic diet has helped doctors treat difficult-to-control epileptic seizures in thousands of children. Coauthored by four respected Johns Hopkins clinicians, Ketogenic Diets continues to be the definitive guide for parents, physicians, and dieticians wanting to implement this strict diet. This fifth edition has been extensively updated to reflect current advances in understanding how the diet works and how it should be used. Six new chapters address how to integrate the diet into all cultures, religions, and taste preferences, modified and less restrictive versions of the diet, and new information showing the benefits of the diet. This bestseller also includes sample meal plans, a food database, and much more'--Provided by publisher.

How to make lots of money, keep yourself safe, and even save the world-all by using a little simple math

Forget the dull, boring math you learned in school. This book shows you the powerful things math can do for you, with applications no teacher ever taught you in algebra class. How can you make money off credit card companies? Will driving a hybrid save you money in the long run? How do you know when he or she is 'the one'?

From financial decisions to your education, job, health, and love life, you'll learn how the math you already know can help you get a lot more out of life.

• Gives you fun, practical advice for using math to improve virtually every area of daily life
• Includes straightforward explanations and easy-to-follow examples
• Written by the author of the successful guide, How Math Explains the World

Filled with practical, indispensable guidance you can put to work every day, this book will safeguard your wallet and enrich every aspect of your life. You can count on it!

CAN YOU EVER BE SURE YOU'RE MAKINGTHE RIGHT DECISION?

Should you stay in a comfy job with little chance of advancement-or take a riskier one in which you could make lots of money but also wind up on the street?

Should you listen to a doctor who advises surgery-or trust another who tells you to wait and see if your condition improves?

Should you remain in a cozy relationship without much spark-or cut your losses and search for your soul mate?

Is there ever a “right” decision? Professor James Stein would argue yes, and in this provocative new book, he shows you how to apply the mathematical principles of Decision Theory to every aspect of your life. Ingeniously blending statistics, probability, game theory, economics, and even philosophy, this dynamic new approach to decision making can help you choose a new career path, buy a better home, even pick the perfect mate. With The Right Decision, you can't go wrong.

INCLUDES ENTERTAINING INTERACTIVE QUIZZESTO HELP YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION EVERY TIME!

In How Math Explains the World, mathematician Stein reveals how seemingly arcane mathematical investigations and discoveries have led to bigger, more world-shaking insights into the nature of our world. In the four main sections of the book, Stein tells the stories of the mathematical thinkers who discerned some of the most fundamental aspects of our universe. From their successes and failures, delusions, and even duels, the trajectories of their innovations—and their impact on society—are traced in this fascinating narrative. Quantum mechanics, space-time, chaos theory and the workings of complex systems, and the impossibility of a 'perfect' democracy are all here. Stein's book is both mind-bending and practical, as he explains the best way for a salesman to plan a trip, examines why any thought you could have is imbedded in the number p , and—perhaps most importantly—answers one of the modern world's toughest questions: why the garage can never get your car repaired on time.

Friendly, entertaining, and fun, How Math Explains the World is the first book by one of California's most popular math teachers, a veteran of both 'math for poets' and Princeton's Institute for Advanced Studies. And it's perfect for any reader wanting to know how math makes both science and the world tick.