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Elementary Functions: An Algorithmic Treatment

by Kenneth E. Iverson
published Science Research Associates, Inc., 1966


Contents

Preface

Chapter 1     Introduction

Chapter 2     Programming Notation
            Specification
            Programs
            Interpretation Tables
            Variable Sequence: Branching
            Notation for Numbers
            Vectors
            Functions of Vectors
            Applications of Vectors
            Programming Techniques
            Exercises

Chapter 3     Functions
            Definition of Functions
            Naming Functions
            Some Basic Functions
            Fundamental Properties of Functions
            Exercises

Chapter 4     The Polynomial Function
            Introduction
            Efficient Evaluation of Polynomials
            Degree of a Polynomial
            Addition of Polynomials
            Multiplication of Polynomials
            Synthetic Division
            The Binomial Theorem
            Approximation by Polynomials
            Exercises

Chapter 5     The Slope Function
            The Secant Slope of a Function
            The Slope of the Exponential Function x*n
            Notation for Composite Functions
            The Slope of the Sum of Two Functions
            The Slope of the Product of Two Functions
            Some Interesting Functions
            Approximating Polynomials of Unlimited Degree
            Applications of the Slope Function
            Exercises

Chapter 6     Circular Functions
            The Sine and Cosine Functions
            Addition Theorems for the Sine and Cosine
            The Slope Functions of the Sine and Cosine
            Polynomial Approximations for Sine and Cosine
            The Tangent Function
            Tables of the Circular Functions
            Applications of the Circular Functions
            Exercises

Chapter 7     Inverse and Reciprocal Functions
            Introduction
            The Slope of the Reciprocal
            Reciprocals of the Circular Functions
            The Slope of the Inverse
            Inverses of the Circular Functions
            The Natural Logarithm
            Applications of the Inverse Circular Functions
            Exercises

Chapter 8     The Exponential Function and Its Inverse
            Introduction
            The Base-b Exponential (b*) x
            The Base-b Logarithm (b*)' x
            Properties of (b*) and (b*)'
            The Natural Logarithm and Natural Exponential
            Tables of Logarithm
            Applications of the Logarithm and Exponential
            The Family of Exponential Functions
            Exercises

Chapter 9     Automatic Program Execution
            The Typewriter
            Branches
            Definition of Functions
            Correction and Display of Programs
            Interrupted Execution
            Invalid Statements
            Statement Labels
            Literals
            Analysis of a Program
            Other Basic Functions
            Exercises

Appendix A   Conventions Governing Order of Evaluation

Appendix B   Table of Circular Functions

Appendix C   Tables of Base-10 Logarithms

Appendix D   Summary of Notation   download (0.2M)

Index



Preface

The present text is intended for a one-semester precalculus course at the freshman level. The main topics are those to be expected in an introductory course in elementary function -- polynomials, circular functions, and the logarithmic and exponential functions.

The major distinguishing characteristic of this treatment is the systematic use of formal algorithms or programs in the definition of functions. Programs are expressed in a simple programming language based on a small set of simple primitives: +, -, ×, ÷, specification, branch, selection of a component of a vector, and formal composition of definitions.

The following characteristics of the treatment are also of interest:

1. Vectors are introduced early as an effective device for treatment a family of variables and are used throughout the text. For example, the polynomial is treated in terms of its vector of coefficients, yielding simple explicit procedures for addition and multiplication of polynomials, synthetic division, and the generation of Pascal's triangle. 1. The slope of a function is also defined early and is developed as a powerful tool for the study of functions. Use of the slope function yields, in particular, simple derivations of the polynomial expansions of all the functions treated. 1. Notation is introduced for the reciprocal of a function and the inverse of a function and is used to clarify the relations among the functions treated. 1. The mathematical derivations are kept simple. Many are novel -- for example, the derivation of the slope of the reciprocal function in Chapter 7. 1. Each step of the development is carefully motivated; spurious rigor (that is, the making of careful distinctions which are never actually needed or used at the particular level of presentation) is avoided.

Programming is learned as a by-product of the constant use of algorithms. The use of a computer (treated in Chapter 9) is helpful but is neither necessary nor central to the development. The exercises are numerous (over 250) and span a wide range of difficulty. A complete booklet of solutions is available from the publisher.

This book grew from my own work in programming languages, and from my conviction that the discipline naturally imposed by the formalism required in programming would prove a boon in the exposition of mathematics from a very early level onward. It was developed in a one-semester course for seniors at the Fox Lane High School.

I am indebted to a number of the faculty of Fox Lane High School -- to Mr. Robert Wallace for initial discussions of course content, to Mr. George Kasunick, Dr. Norman Michaels, and Dr. Neil Atkins for their support and cooperation, and to Messrs. Harold Barrett and James Lott for many helpful discussions. To Dr. Herbert Hellerman of the IBM System Research Institute, I am indebted for the use of his PAT system on the 1620 computer and for the many evenings he gave to coaching students in its use during the first years of the course. For the programming system used in the third year of the course, I am obliged to Mr. Lawrence M. Breed of IBM and Mr. Philip S. Abrams of Stanford University. I am particularly indebted to Mr. Adin D. Falkoff and to Mr. Breed, my colleagues at the Thomas J. Watson Research Center, for many helpful suggestions and discussions. Thanks are also due to the International Business Machines Corporation and, in particular, to Dr. G.L. Tucker, for free time to teach the course. I am also pleased to acknowledge the editorial assistance of Messrs. Peter Saecker and Coley Mills of Science Research Associates. I am indebted to my wife Jean for typing and retyping the manuscript and to my son Eric for preparing solutions for the exercises.

Kenneth E. Iverson, Mount Kisco, New York, March 1, 1966



See also