computers in the creative artsby j. d. lomax

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Computers in the Creative Arts by J. D. Lomax Review by: R. T. Knox Mathematics in School, Vol. 3, No. 3 (May, 1974), p. 33 Published by: The Mathematical Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30211215 . Accessed: 22/04/2014 13:02 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . The Mathematical Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Mathematics in School. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 31.148.218.97 on Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:02:33 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

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Computers in the Creative Arts by J. D. LomaxReview by: R. T. KnoxMathematics in School, Vol. 3, No. 3 (May, 1974), p. 33Published by: The Mathematical AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30211215 .

Accessed: 22/04/2014 13:02

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

The Mathematical Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access toMathematics in School.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 31.148.218.97 on Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:02:33 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

BOOK REVIEWS

Computers in the Creative Arts ed. by J. D. Lomax N.C.C. 80p pp. 70 Among the vast number of those who work with computers in one capacity or another, a remarkably high proportion have a substantial interest-often a very active one-in at least one of the creative arts. A book with the above title could have gone a long way to making known to these people the wide range of computer techniques relatively easy to adapt and use either in their own job, or simply for interest's sake.

The editor may or may not have steered the book off this particular course, in any event, by farming the various chapters out to individual contributors, he has arrived at quite a different result. Due to their own efforts and ingenuity, these contributors are held in no little esteem but one cannot help feeling that each has given an account of his own work and that of his associates to the detriment of discussion on broader issues.

Nevertheless, although some chapters are fairly specialised, they all make fascinating reading, and at times discuss their topics in such a way as to impart an almost fictional quality to the book. The book certainly contains many well-presented and interesting diagrams; those in the chapter on graphics produced by a plotter are most exciting, as one might expect. However, since most of us have far easier access

to a line printer, it would have been an idea to include some of the very interesting results and techniques available using them. A similar com- plaint might be made regarding the chapter on music; many people I feel would be interested in the widely-usable technique of music generation by program using a transistor radio for amplification.

The chapter on literary composition cer- tainly discusses some easily-applied techniques, but is comparatively short.

Despite all these reservations, if one accepts the material as an addition to one's background knowledge, it is undoubtedly a useful acquisition. R. T. KNOX

Invitation to Mathematics by W. H. Glenn and D. A. Johnson Dover Publications, New York (1973) L1.75 This book was first published in 1960; its appearance in a Dover edition indicates that it has met the needs of teachers and students in the U.S.A. who wish to get a "bird's eye view" of a wide field of elementary classical and modern mathematics.

It has 374 pages, with 124 illustrations, over 500 puzzles and problems with their solutions in the appendix. There are six sections, each of about sixty pages: 1. The World of Mathematics; 2. The World of Measurement; 3. Adventures in Graphing; 4. Short cuts in computation; 5. Computing Devices; 6. The World of Statistics. Each section has a short bibliography.

It was a pleasant surprise to discover that the first problem was insoluble!-which terms of the sequence 1, 7, 13, 19, .... are multiples of 9? Readers were expected to solve the problem "by finding a pattern that repeats regularly": it is easy enough when expressed as a Diophan- tine equation; "solve in integers 6n+1=9m".

Most of the problems are intriguing though straight-forward, covering many topics in school mathematics, from Greek number patterns to linear programming and topology. Did you know that if you have nine similar coins, of which eight have the same weight and the ninth is heavier than the rest, then the odd coin can be detected by only two weighings in a balance?

Amongst the biographies of famous mathe- maticians occurs one of John Von Neumann, who pioneered the making of the first American Computer MANIAC at Princeton; no mention however is made of Alan Turing who first investigated the theory of mechanical com- putation whilst a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and subsequently designed ACE (Automatic Computing Engine), the historic electronic computer that first used valves instead of mechanical relays; its remains now occupy an honoured position in the Science Museum, London, together with Babbage's Difference Engine, that is still in working order.

A section on "Short cuts in computing" contains tests for divisibility by 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 with reasons for their validity. The test for multiple of 7 can be briefly stated: "Any number, 10a+b, is a multiple of 7, if and only if a-2b is a multiple of 7". This and similar tests for divisibility by 13, 17, 19, etc. can easily be proved by elementary algebra.

The authors describe the widespread utilita- rian uses of mathematics in the world today, but they also declare their belief that mathe- matics "is an art like music, with symmetry, pattern and rhythm that can be very pleasing". "The study of patterns can be very important for science, because pattern, regularity and symmetry occur so often in nature."

This is an admirable book for a school library; it is informative, instructive and, above all, interesting. Teachers and students may well wish to have a copy of their own. D. B. EPERSON

MA THEMA TICS WALL CHAR TS FROM PICTORIAL CHAR TS ED UCA TIONAL TR UST

TRIGONOMETRY

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Mathematics catalogue available free on request UK prices 70p post free Abroad 85p postage extra

Please enclose payment with orders under L2.50

Introduction to Trigonometry 70p per set After an introductory chart the ratios sine, cosine, and tangent are each defined on a separate chart with bold simple diagrams and a photograph of a practical situation. The notes give suggestions for making simple measuring devices. With notes.

Graphs 70p per set Set of five charts devised by Gordon Pemberton, illustrating block graph, bar graph, line graph, circle graph and working graph. With notes.

The SI Family Tree 70p How the various physical quantities are all derived from the six base units and the two supplementary units of SI. Large chart with supplementary chart.

Metric Relationships 70p The relationship between the metric units of length, cubic capacity and liquid measure. With notes.

Metric Measurements 70p per set Set of five charts illustrating everyday units of length, area, volume, capacity and mass.

Mass, Weight, Force, Work and Power 70p per set Set of five charts designed to illustrate these concepts in a practical way and explain their measurement in SI units.

PICTORIAL CHARTS EDUCATIONAL TRUST 27 KIRCHEN ROAD EALING LONDON W13 OUD

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