Introduction to Geometric Probability

ISBN-13: 9780521593625 / Angielski / Twarda / 1997 / 196 str.

Daniel A. Klain; Gian-Carlo Rota; Gian-Carlo Rota

Opis

Here is the first modern introduction to geometric probability, also known as integral geometry, presented at an elementary level, requiring little more than first-year graduate mathematics. Klein and Rota present the theory of intrinsic volumes due to Hadwiger, McMullen, Santalo and others, along with a complete and elementary proof of Hadwiger's characterization theorem of invariant measures in Euclidean n-space. They develop the theory of the Euler characteristic from an integral-geometric point of view. The authors then prove the fundamental theorem of integral geometry, namely, the kinematic formula. Finally, the analogies between invariant measures on polyconvex sets and measures on order ideals of finite partially ordered sets are investigated. The relationship between convex geometry and enumerative combinatorics motivates much of the presentation. Every chapter concludes with a list of unsolved problems.

Recenzje

' … a brief and useful introduction …' European Mathematical Society

Spis treści

Introduction; 1. The Buffon needle problem; 2. Valuation and integral; 3. A discrete lattice; 4. The intrinsic volumes for parallelotopes; 5. The lattice of polyconvex sets; 6. Invariant measures on Grassmannians; 7. The intrinsic volumes for polyconvex sets; 8. A characterization theorem for volume; 9. Hadwiger's characterization theorem; 10. Kinematic formulas for polyconvex sets; 11. Polyconvex sets in the sphere; References; Index of symbols; Index.