Nahin Chases and Escapes

The Mathematics of Pursuit and Evasion
With a New preface by the author
ISBN: 978-1-4008-4206-3
Verlag: De Gruyter
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 272 Seiten

Reihe: Princeton Puzzlers

No detailed description available for "Chases and Escapes".

Autoren/Hrsg.

Nahin, Paul J.

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Operations Research Spieltheorie
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Mathematik Allgemein Populäre Darstellungen der Mathematik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface to the Paperback Edition xiii

What You Need to Know to Read This Book (and How I Learned What I Needed to Know to Write It) xxvii

Introduction 1

Chapter 1. The Classic Pursuit Problem 7

- 1.1 Pierre Bouguer's Pirate Ship Analysis 7

- 1.2 A Modern Twist on Bouguer 17

- 1.3 Before Bouguer: The Tractrix 23

- 1.4 The Myth of Leonardo da Vinci 27

- 1.5 Apollonius Pursuit and Ramchundra's Intercept Problem 29

Chapter 2. Pursuit of (Mostly) Maneuvering Targets 41

- 2.1 Hathaway's Dog-and-Duck Circular Pursuit Problem 41

- 2.2 Computer Solution of Hathaway's Pursuit Problem 52

- 2.3 Velocity and Acceleration Calculations for a Moving Body 64

- 2.4 Houghton's Problem: A Circular Pursuit That Is Solvable in Closed Form 78

- 2.5 Pursuit of Invisible Targets 85

- 2.6 Proportional Navigation 93

Chapter 3. Cyclic Pursuit 106

- 3.1 A Brief History of the n-Bug Problem, and Why It Is of Practical Interest 106

- 3.2 The Symmetrical n-Bug Problem 110

- 3.3 Morley's Nonsymmetrical 3-Bug Problem 116

Chapter 4. Seven Classic Evasion Problems 128

- 4.1 The Lady-in-the-Lake Problem 128

- 4.2 Isaacs's Guarding-the-Target Problem 138

- 4.3 The Hiding Path Problem 143

- 4.4 The Hidden Object Problem: Pursuit and Evasion as a Simple Two-Person, Zero-Sum Game of

Attack-and-Defend 156

- 4.5 The Discrete Search Game for a Stationary Evader -- Hunting for Hiding Submarines 168

- 4.6 A Discrete Search Game with a Mobile Evader -- Isaacs's Princess-and-Monster Problem 174

- 4.7 Rado's Lion-and-Man Problem and Besicovitch's Astonishing Solution 181

Appendix A

Solution to the Challenge Problems of Section 1.1 187

Appendix B

Solutions to the Challenge Problems of Section 1.2 190

Appendix C

Solution to the Challenge Problem of Section 1.5 198

Appendix D

Solution to the Challenge Problem of Section 2.2 202

Appendix E

Solution to the Challenge Problem of Section 2.3 209

Appendix F

Solution to the Challenge Problem of Section 2.5 214

Appendix G

Solution to the Challenge Problem of Section 3.2 217

Appendix H

Solution to the Challenge Problem of Section 4.3 219

Appendix I

Solution to the Challenge Problem of Section 4.4 222

Appendix J

Solution to the Challenge Problem of Section 4.7 224

Appendix K

Guelman's Proof 229

Notes 235

Bibliography 245

Acknowledgments 249

Index 251

Über Autor(innen)

Paul J. Nahin is the best-selling author of many popular math books, including Mrs. Perkins's Electric Quilt, Digital Dice, Dr. Euler's Fabulous Formula, When Least Is Best, and An Imaginary Tale (all Princeton). He is professor emeritus of electrical engineering at the University of New Hampshire.