Philip J. Davis
Encyclopedia
Philip J. Davis is an American
applied mathematician
.
Davis was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts
. He is known for his work in numerical analysis
and approximation theory
, as well as his investigations in the history
and philosophy of mathematics
. Currently a Professor Emeritus from the Division of Applied Mathematics at Brown University
, he earned his degrees in mathematics from Harvard University
(SB, 1943; PhD, 1950, advisor Ralph P. Boas, Jr
.).
He served briefly in an aerodynamics research position in the Air Force
in World War II
before joining the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology
). He became Chief of Numerical Analysis there and worked on the well-known Abramowitz and Stegun
Handbook of Mathematical Functions before joining Brown in 1963.
He was awarded the Chauvenet Prize
for mathematical writing in 1963 for an article on the gamma function
, and has won numerous other prizes, including being chosen to deliver the 1991 Hendrick Lectures of the MAA
(which became the basis for his book Spirals: From Theodorus
to Chaos ). He has also been a frequent invited lecturer. In addition, he has authored several books. Among the best known are The Mathematical Experience
(with Reuben Hersh
), a popular survey of modern mathematics and its history
and philosophy
; Methods of Numerical Integration (with Philip Rabinowitz
), long the standard work on the subject of quadrature
; and Interpolation and Approximation, still an important reference in this area.
He has also written an autobiography, The Education of a Mathematician; some of his other books include autobiographical sections as well. In addition, he has published works of fiction. His best-known book outside the field of mathematics is The Thread: A Mathematical Yarn (1983, 2nd ed. 1989), which "has raised Digression into a literary form" (Gerard Piel); it takes off from the name of the Russian mathematician Tschebyscheff
, and in the course of explaining why he insists on that "barbaric, Teutonic, non-standard orthography" (in the words of a reader of Interpolation and Approximation who wrote him to complain) he digresses in many amusing directions.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
applied mathematician
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
.
Davis was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
. He is known for his work in numerical analysis
Numerical analysis
Numerical analysis is the study of algorithms that use numerical approximation for the problems of mathematical analysis ....
and approximation theory
Approximation theory
In mathematics, approximation theory is concerned with how functions can best be approximated with simpler functions, and with quantitatively characterizing the errors introduced thereby...
, as well as his investigations in the history
History of mathematics
The area of study known as the history of mathematics is primarily an investigation into the origin of discoveries in mathematics and, to a lesser extent, an investigation into the mathematical methods and notation of the past....
and philosophy of mathematics
Philosophy of mathematics
The philosophy of mathematics is the branch of philosophy that studies the philosophical assumptions, foundations, and implications of mathematics. The aim of the philosophy of mathematics is to provide an account of the nature and methodology of mathematics and to understand the place of...
. Currently a Professor Emeritus from the Division of Applied Mathematics at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, he earned his degrees in mathematics from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(SB, 1943; PhD, 1950, advisor Ralph P. Boas, Jr
Ralph P. Boas, Jr
Ralph Philip Boas, Jr was a mathematician, teacher, and journal editor. He wrote over 200 papers, mainly in the fields of real and complex analysis....
.).
He served briefly in an aerodynamics research position in the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
before joining the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
). He became Chief of Numerical Analysis there and worked on the well-known Abramowitz and Stegun
Abramowitz and Stegun
Abramowitz and Stegun is the informal name of a mathematical reference work edited by Milton Abramowitz and Irene Stegun of the U.S. National Bureau of Standards...
Handbook of Mathematical Functions before joining Brown in 1963.
He was awarded the Chauvenet Prize
Chauvenet Prize
The Chauvenet Prize is the highest award for mathematical expository writing. It consists of a prize of $1,000 and a certificate, and is awarded yearly by the Mathematical Association of America in recognition of an outstanding expository article on a mathematical topic. The prize is named in...
for mathematical writing in 1963 for an article on the gamma function
Gamma function
In mathematics, the gamma function is an extension of the factorial function, with its argument shifted down by 1, to real and complex numbers...
, and has won numerous other prizes, including being chosen to deliver the 1991 Hendrick Lectures of the MAA
Mathematical Association of America
The Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
(which became the basis for his book Spirals: From Theodorus
Theodorus of Cyrene
Theodorus of Cyrene was a Greek mathematician of the 5th century BC. The only first-hand accounts of him that we have are in two of Plato's dialogues: the Theaetetus and the Sophist...
to Chaos ). He has also been a frequent invited lecturer. In addition, he has authored several books. Among the best known are The Mathematical Experience
The Mathematical Experience
The Mathematical Experience is a 1981 book by Philip J. Davis and Reuben Hersh that discusses the practice of modern mathematics from a historical and philosophical perspective...
(with Reuben Hersh
Reuben Hersh
Reuben Hersh is an American mathematician and academic, best known for his writings on the nature, practice, and social impact of mathematics. This work challenges and complements mainstream philosophy of mathematics.After receiving a B.A...
), a popular survey of modern mathematics and its history
History of mathematics
The area of study known as the history of mathematics is primarily an investigation into the origin of discoveries in mathematics and, to a lesser extent, an investigation into the mathematical methods and notation of the past....
and philosophy
Philosophy of mathematics
The philosophy of mathematics is the branch of philosophy that studies the philosophical assumptions, foundations, and implications of mathematics. The aim of the philosophy of mathematics is to provide an account of the nature and methodology of mathematics and to understand the place of...
; Methods of Numerical Integration (with Philip Rabinowitz
Philip Rabinowitz (mathematician)
Philip Rabinowitz was an American and Israeli applied mathematician. He was best known for his work in numerical analysis, including his books A First Course in Numerical Analysis with Anthony Ralston and Methods of Numerical Integration with Philip J. Davis...
), long the standard work on the subject of quadrature
Numerical integration
In numerical analysis, numerical integration constitutes a broad family of algorithms for calculating the numerical value of a definite integral, and by extension, the term is also sometimes used to describe the numerical solution of differential equations. This article focuses on calculation of...
; and Interpolation and Approximation, still an important reference in this area.
He has also written an autobiography, The Education of a Mathematician; some of his other books include autobiographical sections as well. In addition, he has published works of fiction. His best-known book outside the field of mathematics is The Thread: A Mathematical Yarn (1983, 2nd ed. 1989), which "has raised Digression into a literary form" (Gerard Piel); it takes off from the name of the Russian mathematician Tschebyscheff
Pafnuty Chebyshev
Pafnuty Lvovich Chebyshev was a Russian mathematician. His name can be alternatively transliterated as Chebychev, Chebysheff, Chebyshov, Tschebyshev, Tchebycheff, or Tschebyscheff .-Early years:One of nine children, Chebyshev was born in the village of Okatovo in the district of Borovsk,...
, and in the course of explaining why he insists on that "barbaric, Teutonic, non-standard orthography" (in the words of a reader of Interpolation and Approximation who wrote him to complain) he digresses in many amusing directions.
External links
- Personal web site at Brown University.
- Official web site at Brown University.
- Interview at SIAM
- Bibliography