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Notes
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math-def is a mathematics dictionary based on the fortune format. It is
written in ASCII and therefore suited for procession
by other program (i.e. scripts, filters, translators).
The rough ASCII format assures that file can be used for specific
needs, i.e. HTML translators. According to Unix philolophy, we leave
basic database features like search using hash table etc to existing
programs. The 'fortune' format is chosen for its simplicity and wide
availability.
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- Principle: simple, short, clear and correct
- Format: ASCII fortune format, (% seperates entries)
basic TeX code without macros.
- Language: English (other languages in seperate files)
- Patterns: [Definition] must be unique, can contain many words
- {Reference} should match [Definition]
- (=Equivalent)
- No {}, [] brackets else in text. However,
$TeX code$ can contain any brackets.
- file-information (last modification date,
previous versions, author info etc) in the first fortune entry.
-
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Why an other dictionary? There are many fine math dictionaries available
already: the CRC Concise Encylopadie of Mathematics (Chapman and Hall),
the encyclopaedia of Mathematics on CD-ROM (Kluver), the Encyclopedic
dictionary of Mathematics (MIT Press). Pinguin dictionary of Mathematics,
The Harper-Collins dictionary of Mathematics. They are either heavy,
expensive, only readable with special software or not up to date.
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We maintain math-def in http://www.dynamical-systems.org.
Feel free to copy the file and extend it further. You are welcome to
send contributions/comments/corrections/filters/scripts to
math-def@dynmamical-systems.org. Feel free to post your own
version/extension of this file. The goal is to have a reliable,
precice, concice encyclopaedia of mathematics in a few years freely
availably on every work station, hopefully bundeled with any free
operating system.
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Sample use:
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fortune math-def -m Bernoulli
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