books
the calculus of friendship what a teacher and a student learned about life while corresponding about math
p the calculus of friendship is the story of an extraordinary connection between a teacher and a student as chronicled through more than thirty years of letters between them . what makes their relationship unique is that it is based almost entirely on a shared love of calculus . for them calculus is more than a branch of mathematics ; it is a game they love playing together a constant when all else is in flux . the teacher goes from the prime of his career to retirement competes in whitewater kayaking at the international level and loses a son . the student matures from high school math whiz to ivy league professor suffers the sudden death of a parent and blunders into a marriage destined to fail . yet through it all they take refuge in the haven of calculus until a day comes when calculus is no longer enough . p like calculus itself the calculus of friendship is an exploration of change . its about the transformation that takes place in a students heart as he and his teacher reverse roles as they age as they are buffeted by life itself . written by a renowned teacher and communicator of mathematics the calculus of friendship is warm intimate and deeply moving . the most inspiring ideas of calculus differential equations and chaos theory are explained through metaphors images and anecdotes in a way that all readers will find beautiful and even poignant . math enthusiasts from high school students to professionals will delight in the offbeat problems and lucid explanations in the letters . p for anyone whose life has been changed by a mentor the calculus of friendship will be an unforgettable journey .
hardcover princeton university press 2009 isbn13 9780691134932 isbn10 0691134936
abridged n isbn 13 9780691134932 number in series 1 number of pages 166 publisher princeton univ pr release date 62135769600000