Model of Maxima and Minima after Peano, by Richard P. Baker, Baker #542
date: label: date made
content: ca 1906-1935
name: label: maker
content: Baker, Richard P.
notes: label: Description
content: This model was constructed by Richard P. Baker in the early twentieth century when he was on the faculty in mathematics at the University of Iowa. Baker believed that models were essential for the teaching of many parts of mathematics and physics, and over one hundred of his models are in the museum collections.
label: Description
content: This model is made of plaster with a wooden base and sides. A tag reads: No. 542. Maxima and Minima.
label: Description
content: According to Baker's 1931 catalog, the model is for teaching calculus of several variables. It illustrates ideas about maxima and minima of surfaces developed by the Italian mathematician Giuseppe Peano. To quote the catalog, “The surface: z=(y<sup>2</sup> - ax) (y<<sup>2</sup> - bx), has all normal sections at the origin with a minimum but the surface without.”
label: Description
content: The model came to the Smithsonian in about 1956.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: Baker, R.P., <I>Mathematical Models</I>, Iowa City, 1931, p. 7.
label: Description
content: Emsch, Arnold, “A Model for the Peano Surface,” <I>American Mathematical Monthly</I>, 1922, 29 #10, pp. 388-391. The models of the Peano surface made by Emsch, by Martin Schilling (see http://modellsammlung.uni-goettingen.de/index.php?r=7&sr=32&m=443&lang=en as well as http://www.math.tu-dresden.de/modellsammlung/karte.php?ID=341) and by Rudolf Stoll (see http://www.math.tu-dresden.de/modellsammlung/karte.php?ID=314) are not identical with this one by Baker.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Frances E. Baker
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.211257.110
label: accession number
content: 211257
label: catalog number
content: 211257.110
objectType: label: Object Name
content: geometric model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plaster (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: black (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: plaster cast. screwed to base. (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: average spatial: 11.8 cm x 15.1 cm x 15.1 cm; 4 21/32 in x 5 15/16 in x 5 15/16 in