Math for Scientists: Refreshing the Essentials

Natasha Maurits · Branislava Ćurčić-Blake

Aug 2017 · Springer

About this ebook

This book reviews math topics relevant to non-mathematics students and scientists, but which they may not have seen or studied for a while. These math issues can range from reading mathematical symbols, to using complex numbers, dealing with equations involved in calculating medication equivalents, the General Linear Model (GLM) used in e.g. neuroimaging analysis, finding the minimum of a function, independent component analysis, or filtering approaches. Almost every student or scientist, will at some point run into mathematical formulas or ideas in scientific papers that may be hard to understand, given that formal math education may be some years ago. In this book we will explain the theory behind many of these mathematical ideas and expressions and provide readers with the tools to better understand them. We will revisit high school mathematics and extend and relate this to the mathematics you need to understand the math you may encounter in the course of your research. This book will help you understand the math and formulas in the scientific papers you read. To achieve this goal, each chapter mixes theory with practical pen-and-paper exercises such that you (re)gain experience with solving math problems yourself. Mnemonics will be taught whenever possible. To clarify the math and help readers apply it, each chapter provides real-world and scientific examples.

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About the author

Natasha Maurits is professor of Clinical Neuroengineering at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. She is an applied mathematician by training and has experience in explaining mathematics to non-mathematicians, from children to adults, for over 20 years. She can explain mathematics in intuitive ways, avoiding formulas as much as possible. This approach is highly valued by her students. Bridging the gap between mathematics and other scientific fields is now her daily bread and butter, working as a mathematician in a hospital, and she enjoys explaining the use and beauty of mathematics.
Branislava Ćurčić-Blake works as an Assistant Professor in neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychiatry at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. She has trained as an experimental physicist (a study with a firm basis in mathematics) and did a PhD in neurobiophysics. Starting as a student and throughout her professional career, she has taught primary, high school, master and PhD students the intricacies of mathematics and physics, often motivating them to study these subjects independently with renewed interest.