Miscellaneous Mathematical Constants

Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.5

Word count: 460K words
Chapters: 46

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Miscellaneous Mathematical Constants by Simon PlouffeAuthor: ,Language: English, Class: QA: Science: Mathematics, Release Date: Aug 1, 1996

Editor's review

Miscellaneous Mathematical Constants is an English-language reference work on mathematical constants, credited to Simon Plouffe, released in electronic form by Project Gutenberg, and classified under mathematical sciences. Its core value lies in "lookup and indexing": it gathers various mathematical constants in one place, making it easy for readers to search, cross-check, and verify as needed, rather than proceeding from definitions to proofs like a textbook. For readers who need constant values, names, and related background clues, this kind of compilation saves time hunting; for those interested in the history of mathematics and computational culture, it also shows how constants have been collected and organized. Note that it is not an introductory book that systematically explains mathematical methods; the reading threshold depends on the reader's familiarity with mathematical symbols and terminology. It is best used as a reference book or data collection: first clarify what you want to look up, then consult it selectively, and look up definitions and derivations separately for unfamiliar constants.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students and teachers who need to look up mathematical constant values and names
Enthusiasts interested in mathematical constants, computation, and the history of mathematics
Writers of popular mathematics who need reference clues
Readers with English reading ability who are accustomed to using reference books

Not a good fit for

Beginners who want to systematically learn mathematics starting from basic concepts
Exam-preparation readers expecting continuous explanation and exercise training
General readers who have difficulty reading English and are unfamiliar with mathematical symbols

Reading tips

First browse the table of contents and format to understand how the constants are arranged and what information fields are provided.
Consult it with specific questions, such as verifying the value or name of a constant.
For unfamiliar constants, supplement definitions and derivations with textbooks or encyclopedias.
Keep reading notes recording the sources of constants and your own questions.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for an introduction to mathematics?

Not very. It is closer to a compilation of constants, focused on gathering and lookup rather than systematic teaching from definitions and theorems to worked examples. Complete beginners should first read basic textbooks, then use it as a tool for verification and further exploration.

What background is needed to read it?

You need to be able to read English mathematical terminology and basic symbols and have a general idea of common constants. If you are only looking up values, the threshold is low; to understand the meaning and origin of each constant, you need the corresponding mathematical background.

How is it different from an ordinary mathematics handbook?

It focuses on the specific topic of "constants," with a relatively concentrated scope that facilitates quick lookup and cross-checking; an ordinary mathematics handbook has broader coverage, including formulas, theorems, and methods. The two can be used together: the former for looking up constants, the latter for background.

How can the electronic edition be used more conveniently?

Use reading software that supports search to look up constants by name or symbol; you can also print key pages and annotate them. When reading, pay attention to checking version information, and for questions about values or names, cross-verify with authoritative mathematical sources.

Comments

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