01365nam a22001337a 4500020001800000082001200018100001900030245005200049260004400101300003100145505003800176520099300214650002401207  a9780192853783  a003.857  aSmith, Leonard  aChaos: A Very Short IntroductioncLeonard Smith  aNew YorkbOxford University Pressc2007  axv,180 Pagesb17x11 cmbPB  aIncludes Index and Illustrations.  aChaos exists in systems all around us. Even the simplest system can be subject to chaos, denying us accurate predictions of its behavior, and sometimes giving rise to astonishing structures of large-scale order. Here, Leonard Smith shows that we all have an intuitive understanding of chaotic systems. He uses accessible math and physics to explain Chaos Theory, and points to numerous examples in philosophy and literature that illuminate the problems. This book provides a complete understanding of chaotic dynamics, using examples from mathematics, physics, philosophy, and the real world, with an explanation of why chaos is important and how it differs from the idea of randomness. The author's real life applications include the weather forecast, a pendulum, a coin toss, mass transit, politics, and the role of chaos in gambling and the stock market. Chaos represents a prime opportunity for mathematical lay people to finally get a clear understanding of this fascinating concept.  aQ Science (General)