Inverse Problems: Activities for Undergraduates

Problem solving in mathematics is often thought of as a one way process. For example: take two numbers and multiply them together. However for each problem there is also an inverse problem which runs in the opposite direction: now take a number and find a pair of factors. Such problems are considerably more important, in mathematics and throughout science, than they might first appear. This book concentrates on these inverse problems and how they can be usefully introduced to undergraduate students. A historical introduction sets the scene and gives a cultural context for what the rest of the book. Chapters dealing with inverse problems in calculus, differential equations and linear algebra then follow and the book concludes with suggestions for further reading. Whatever their own field of expertise, this will be an essential purchase for anyone interested in the teaching of mathematics.