Chaos and Fractals: An Elementary Introduction

David P. Feldman

ISBN 10: 0199566445 / ISBN 13: 9780199566440

Published by Oxford University Press, 2012

About this Item

2012. 1st Edition. Paperback. For students with a background in elementary algebra, this book provides a vivid introduction to the key phenomena and ideas of chaos and fractals, including the butterfly effect, strange attractors, fractal dimensions, Julia Sets and the Mandelbrot Set, power laws, and cellular automata. The book includes over 200 end-of-chapter exercises. Num Pages: 432 pages, 306 b/w line drawings, 31 b/w halftones. BIC Classification: PBMX; PBWS; PHS; PHU. Category: (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 191 x 244 x 21. Weight in Grams: 830. . . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780199566440

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Chaos and Fractals: An Elementary Introduction
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199566445
• ISBN 13: 9780199566440
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

This book provides the reader with an elementary introduction to chaos and fractals, suitable for students with a background in elementary algebra, without assuming prior coursework in calculus or physics. It introduces the key phenomena of chaos - aperiodicity, sensitive dependence on initial conditions, bifurcations - via simple iterated functions. Fractals are introduced as self-similar geometric objects and analyzed with the self-similarity and box-counting dimensions. After a brief discussion of power laws, subsequent chapters explore Julia Sets and the Mandelbrot Set. The last part of the book examines two-dimensional dynamical systems, strange attractors, cellular automata, and chaotic differential equations. The book is richly illustrated and includes over 200 end-of-chapter exercises. A flexible format and a clear and succinct writing style make it a good choice for introductory courses in chaos and fractals.

About the Author

David Feldman joined the faculty at College of the Atlantic in 1998, having completed a PhD in Physics at the University of California. He served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2003 - 2007. At COA Feldman has taught over twenty different courses in physics, mathematics, and computer science.

Feldman's research interests lie in the fields of statistical mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. In his research, he uses both analytic and computational techniques. Feldman has authored research papers in journals including Physical Review E, Chaos, and Advances in Complex Systems. He has recently begun a research project looking at trends in extreme precipitation events in Maine.