Encyclopedia of Distances 2nd 2013 Edition

From the reviews of the second edition: “This encyclopedia, dedicated to the theme ‘distances’ in the areas of pure mathematics up to abstract spaces, applied mathematics and applications, includes an impressive rich amount of different topics and knowledge areas. … The encyclopedia is highly recommended for students and researchers and everybody who is interested in increasing his knowledge on this fascinating field of distances.” (Gertraud Ehrig, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1259, 2013) “This is the second edition of the original text (2006). There are several additions, corrections and some streamlining has been done, but the general idea and structure is maintained. The concept of distance is interpreted in its broadest possible sense. In 29 chapters, the concept of distance is placed in as many different contexts by giving an enumeration of definition and properties. … The paper version is clearly a welcome asset in a mathematics library.” (A. Bultheel, The European Mathematical Society, December, 2012)

This updated and revised second edition of the leading reference volume on distance metrics includes a wealth of new material that reflects advances in a field now regarded as an essential tool in many areas of pure and applied mathematics.

The publication of this volume coincides with intensifying research efforts into metric spaces and especially distance design for applications. Accurate metrics have become a crucial goal in computational biology, image analysis, speech recognition and information retrieval.

Leaving aside the practical questions that arise during the selection of a good distance function, this work focuses on providing the research community with an invaluable comprehensive listing of the main available distances.

As well as providing standalone introductions and definitions, the encyclopedia facilitates swift cross-referencing with easily navigable bold-faced textual links to core entries. In addition to distances themselves, the authors have collated numerous fascinating curiosities in their Who s Who of metrics, including distance-related notions and paradigms that enable applied mathematicians in other sectors to deploy research tools that non-specialists justly view as arcane. In expanding access to these techniques, and in many cases enriching the context of distances themselves, this peerless volume is certain to stimulate fresh research.