From calculus to chaos takes a fresh approach this book is a highly readable introduction to applications of calculus from newtons time to the present day these often involve questions of dynamics ie of how and why things change with time. David achesons from calculus to chaos is a book that can remedy that lack it is a friendly introduction to dynamics that uses historical vignettes well chosen examples and computer simulation to survey the field and show us in the words of the blurb writer what the calculus is really for the mathematical association of america. What is calculus really for this book is a highly readable introduction to applications of calculus from newtons time to the present day these often involve questions of dynamics ie of how and why things change with time problems of this kind lie at the heart of much of applied mathematics physics and engineering from calculus to chaos takes a fresh approach to the subject as a . From calculus to chaos takes a fresh approach to the subject as a whole by moving from first steps to the frontiers and by focusing on the many important and interesting ideas which can get lost amid a snowstorm of detail in conventional texts the book is aimed at a wide readership and assumes only some knowledge of elementary calculus. What is calculus really for it helps tell us how and why things change with time this is the purpose of dynamics which lies at the heart of much of applied mathematics science and engineering acheson explains why student mathematics is useful by exploring the most interesting ideas of calculus and dynamics from newton to the present