Finite Math?

[Gimlin]

Could some explain to me in detail Finite Math.

I am taking it next semester and I want to know what I am getting into.

Thanks

[thinktank2]

Finite Mathematics deals with finite problems..that doesn't involve infinite sets, limits or continuity problems. NO calculus is involved.

Graph theory,Matrix algebra,Statistics, probability,Linear systems etc..are those things that you will under the Finite Mathematics Heading.

Free Books:
http://www.math.dartmouth.edu/~doyle...ver/cover.html

http://campus.northpark.edu/wicksBook/TOC.html

[beachbum]

And a Finite Math's course is one that finishes at the end of the year

[Guv]

There is a mathematical discipline called Finite Differences, which used to be required for Insurance industry actuaries. One of the ten Actuarial Examinations was on this subject.

This subject gets its name from considering such concepts as the following.

List the squares of the integers in order with the differences between them, and the differences of the differences.

01
04 03
09 05 02
16 07 02
25 09 02

Note that the second differences are constant. If you make a similar list for the cubes, the third differences will be constant. If the second differences are constant, the data is known to result from a second order polynomial. If the third differences are constant, the data results from a third order polynomial.

By making tables of data and analyzing the differences, you can get an idea of the type of function represented by the data. You can also build approximating functions for such data, using the differences determined by your data tables.

If the data in a table does not correspond to consecutive values, the analysis is a bit tuffer. If there is experimental error in the data, the analysis is even more difficult. If the data is the result of a function involving more that two variables (Z = Function(X, Y) instead of Y = Function( X) ), then the subject matter gets tuffer.

The above and similar concepts are the start of the discipline called Finite Differences. There is a lot more to it that what is suggested above. Try your local library or a Web Search using "Finite Differences" as a search key.

[DavidHooper]

we did this in secondary school for discovering the eqn of a polynomial. i even wrote a spreadsheet for finding the eqn. it only worked up to order 14 tho, above 14 and the accuracy broke down.

i can dig it out if anyone wants it...