How a modern radio works, told through mathematics, history, and selected puzzles. The modern radio is a wonder, and behind that magic is mathematics. In The Mathematical Radio , Paul Nahin explains how radios work, deploying mathematics and historical discussion, accompanied by a steady stream of intriguing puzzles for math buffs to ponder. Beginning with oscillators and circuits, then moving on to AM, FM, and single-sideband radio, Nahin focuses on the elegant mathematics underlying radio technology rather than the engineering. He explores and explains more than a century of key developments, placing them in historical and technological context.Nahin, a prolific author of books on math for the general reader, describes in fascinating detail the mathematical underpinnings of a technology we use daily. He explains and solves, for example, Maxwell’s equations for the electromagnetic field. Readers need only a familarity with advanced high school–level math to follow Nahin’s mathematical discussions. Writing with the nonengineer in mind, Nahin examines topics including impulses in time and frequency, spectrum shifting at the transmitter, the superheterodyne, the physics of single-sideband radio, and FM sidebands. Chapters end with “challenge problems” and an appendix offers solutions, partial answers, and hints. Readers will come away with a new appreciation for the beauty of even the most useful mathematics.
Paul Nahin Reihenfolge der Bücher
Trotz seines Hintergrunds in der Elektrotechnik hat sich Paul J. Nahin als angesehener Popularisator der Mathematik etabliert. Seine Bücher, die oft Elemente der Logik und des Ingenieurwesens enthalten, haben eine breite Leserschaft gefunden. Nahin macht komplexe mathematische Konzepte für ein allgemeines Publikum zugänglich und ansprechend. Seine Arbeit zeigt, dass Mathematik sowohl faszinierend als auch zugänglich sein kann.






- 2024
- 2023
Focusing on the probability integral, the book explores its historical significance and various analytical approaches developed by prominent mathematicians like De Moivre and Laplace. It highlights the integral's pervasive presence in diverse fields such as mathematics, physics, engineering, and probability theory, emphasizing its challenges and the techniques used to evaluate it. The author also delves into applications in thermodynamics and signal processing, making the content accessible to undergraduates and appealing to those interested in mathematics and its history.
- 2021
How to Fall Slower Than Gravity
- 320 Seiten
- 12 Lesestunden
"Paul Nahin is a master at explaining odd phenomena through straightforward mathematics. In this collection of twenty-six intriguing problems, he explores how mathematical physicists think. Always entertaining, the problems range from ancient catapult conundrums to the puzzling physics of a very peculiar material called NASTYGLASS—and from dodging trucks to why raindrops fall slower than the rate of gravity. The questions raised may seem impossible to answer at first and may require an unexpected twist in reasoning, but sometimes their solutions are surprisingly simple. Nahin’s goal, however, is always to guide readers—who will need only to have studied advanced high school math and physics—in expanding their mathematical thinking to make sense of the curiosities of the physical world. The problems are in the first part of the book and the solutions are in the second, so that readers may challenge themselves to solve the questions on their own before looking at the explanations. The problems show how mathematics—including algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and calculus—can be united with physical laws to solve both real and theoretical problems. Historical anecdotes woven throughout the book bring alive the circumstances and people involved in some amazing discoveries and achievements. More than a puzzle book, this work will immerse you in the delights of scientific history while honing your math skills"--Publisher's description
- 2021
"For centuries, mathematicians have tried, and failed, to solve the zeta-3 problem. This problem is simple in its formulation, but remains unsolved to this day, despite the attempts of some of the world's greatest mathematicians to solve it. The problem can be stated as follows: is there a simple symbolic formula for the following sum: 1+(1/2)^3+(1/3)^3+(1/4)^3+...? Although it is possible to calculate the approximate numerical value of the sum (for those interested, it's 1.20205...), there is no known symbolic expression. A symbolic formula would not only provide an exact value for the sum, but would allow for greater insight into its characteristics and properties. The answers to these questions are not of purely academic interest; the zeta-3 problem has close connections to physics, engineering, and other areas of mathematics. Zeta-3 arises in quantum electrodynamics and in number theory, for instance, and it is closely connected to the Riemann hypothesis. In In Pursuit of zeta-3, Paul Nahin turns his sharp, witty eye on the zeta-3 problem. He describes the problem's history, and provides numerous "challenge questions" to engage readers, along with Matlab code. Unlike other, similarly challenging problems, anyone with a basic mathematical background can understand the problem-making it an ideal choice for a pop math book"--
- 2020
"An entertaining mathematical exploration of the heat equation and its role in the triumphant development of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable."--Inside cover
- 2019
(Almost) Impossible Integrals, Sums, and Series
- 539 Seiten
- 19 Lesestunden
This book contains a multitude of challenging problems and solutions that are not commonly found in classical textbooks. One goal of the book is to present these fascinating mathematical problems in a new and engaging way and illustrate the connections between integrals, sums, and series, many of which involve zeta functions, harmonic series, polylogarithms, and various other special functions and constants. Throughout the book, the reader will find both classical and new problems, with numerous original problems and solutions coming from the personal research of the author. Where classical problems are concerned, such as those given in Olympiads or proposed by famous mathematicians like Ramanujan, the author has come up with new, surprising or unconventional ways of obtaining the desired results. The book begins with a lively foreword by renowned author Paul Nahin and is accessible to those with a good knowledge of calculus from undergraduate students to researchers, and will appeal to all mathematical puzzlers who love a good integral or series.
- 2017
Physics can explain many of the things that we commonly encounter. It can tell us why the night is dark, what causes the tides, and even how best to catch a baseball. With "In Praise of Simple Physics", Paul Nahin presents a plethora of situations that explore the science and maths behind the wonders of everyday life. Roaming through a diverse range of puzzles, he illustrates how physics shows us ways to wring more energy from renewable sources, to measure the gravity in our car garages, to figure out which of three light switches in the basement controls the light bulb in the attic, and much, much more. How fast can you travel from London to Paris? How do scientists calculate the energy of an atomic bomb explosion? How do you kick a football so it stays in the air and goes a long way downfield?
- 2016
An Imaginary Tale
- 296 Seiten
- 11 Lesestunden
In the title, "[the square root of minus one]" appears as a radical over "-1."
- 2014
Inside Interesting Integrals
A Collection of Sneaky Tricks, Sly Substitutions, and Numerous Other Stupendously Clever, Awesomely Wicked, and Devilishly Seductive Maneuvers for Computing Hundreds of Perplexing Definite Integrals From Physics, Engineering, and Mathematics (Plus Numerous Challenge Problems with Complete, Detailed Solutions)
- 552 Seiten
- 20 Lesestunden
What’s the point of calculating definite integrals since you can’t possibly do them all? What makes doing the specific integrals in this book of value aren’t the specific answers we’ll obtain, but rather the methods we’ll use in obtaining those answers; methods you can use for evaluating the integrals you will encounter in the future. This book, now in its second edition, is written in a light-hearted manner for students who have completed the first year of college or high school AP calculus and have just a bit of exposure to the concept of a differential equation. Every result is fully derived. If you are fascinated by definite integrals, then this is a book for you. New material in the second edition includes 25 new challenge problems and solutions, 25 new worked examples, simplified derivations, and additional historical discussion.

