Dynamic Spreadsheets
Dynamic Spreadsheets
Below are several examples of spreadsheets that I use both in the
classroom and in presentations. No guidance is given about the
mathematical topic covered by each one: You'll have to look elsewhere
for that. These are here simply so people who attended a talk of mine
on this subject can download what they saw. Just click on the title
to download an Excel spreadsheet. These were made on my Macintosh in
Excel 2001, so
I have no idea if they will work on your PC. A version for Excel 95 is
also available. Sorry if this doesn't work either.
This spreadsheet enables you to use the classical "Babylonian method"
and then Newton's method to find the square roots of real numbers.
Visualization includes time series and the graphs of Newton's Method
applied to x2 + c.
Excel 2001
Excel 5.0/95
This spreadsheet enables you to see the results of the iterative
process known as the logistic population model both numerically and
visually (as a time series and using graphical iteration). To
understand this model, you should be familiar with the basic ideas
concerning chaos (see, for example, the book Chaos.)
Excel 2001
Excel 5.0/95
This spreadsheet enables you to see the results of iterating the
simple quadratic expression x2 + c both numerically and
visually as a time series. Here c is a parameter that you can
vary. In particular, you may witness chaotic behavior
and the period doubling route to chaos using this tool. To
understand what is going on, you should be familiar with the basic ideas
concerning iteration and chaos (see, for example, the books
Iteration and Chaos.)
Excel 2001
Excel 5.0/95
This spreadsheet contains a demo of the chaos game as well as an
actual version of the game in which the die is rolled 10,000 times to
produce the image. To use this spreadsheet, you need to understand
what the chaos game is all about (see, for example, the book Fractals).
Go to the Dynamical
Systems and Technology Project to experiment with other versions
of this game.
Excel 2001
Excel 5.0/95
This spreadsheet allows the user to manipulate and animate graphs of linear
and quadratic equations via scrollbars.
Excel 2001
Excel 5.0/95
Devaney home
page
The Dynamical
Systems and Technology Project
The Babylonian Method and Newton's Method