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Bezig met laden... Mathematics in 10 Lessons: The Grand Tour (editie 2009)door Jerry P. King (Auteur)
Informatie over het werkMathematics in 10 Lessons: The Grand Tour door Jerry P. King
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Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. As a philosophy undergrad and someone who already took a few classes in math, including discrete mathematics (a class on proofs), I found this too simple and dry. In the introduction, Jerry King says that, "In the mathematical field, a single notion precisely learned is worth a textbook of partially digested material." and I suppose that many of his readers, like myself, have plenty of half digested material that they hope to sort out by reading this book. The presentation is excellent, and repays reading and understanding each line, but the 10 lessons of this true mathematics course require the same major effort and time as would a good mathematics education beyond the basics. Rather like reading music, many symbols have to be understood first, and then manipulated with ease before anything can be played with pleasure. I doubt that this book will bring many readers to that level, but for those who are already mathematicians, it should be a great summary of what they already know. It does illustrate the power of mathematics in the generalization of problems and manipulation of symbols to produce very neat results with surprising real life applications. King sees a separate mathematical world which is essential to scientific progress and he would probably agree with Richard Feynman's statement that, "The only true physical description is that describing the experimental meaning of the quantities in the equation - or better, the way the equations are to be used in describing experimental observations. This being the case perhaps the best way to proceed is to try to guess equations, and disregard physical models or descriptions." Real math "for poets" (humanists), philosophically well grounded and emphasizing aesthetics and fundamental principles. Includes theorems and proofs in elementary logic/set theory, arithmetic, algebra, number theory, analytic geometry, probability/statistics, and calculus. Even if the "poets" could be persuaded to read it, would they like it as much as I did? geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
Many of us trained mainly in the humanities and liberal arts may respect mathematics as an essential scientific discipline, but have done very little mathematics and often feel intimidated by its rigors. If you've ever wondered what mathematicians mean by the aesthetic elegance of their subject, here is your chance to experience firsthand mathematics' intellectual pleasures. Martin Gardner, in his review of Jerry King's The Art of Mathematics, praised King: "Creative mathematicians seldom write for outsiders, but when they do, they usually do it well. Jerry King, a professor at Lehigh University, is no exception." For his new book, Jerry P. King has designed a grand tour of mathematics in ten essential lessons for the general reader who wants to know how mathematics is done. Almost no prior mathematical knowledge is assumed and through lively exposition and lucid explanations real mathematics is made not only palatable, but even enjoyable to the uninitiated. Professor King begins by establishing two key points: first, all mathematics flows from a few fundamental principles. Second, aesthetic considerations provide both the motivation for mathematics research and the standards for evaluating that research. The book is structured so that the reader gradually builds up an ever-greater skill set as each lesson is mastered. The essential concepts introduced include symbolic logic, infinity, rational numbers, number theory, real and imaginary numbers, function, probability, calculus, and the building of mathematical models in applied mathematics. Throughout his exposition, King provides brief historical digressions, which highlight key developments made by the giants in the field of mathematics. Eloquently written and clearly presented, Mathematics in 10 Lessons will inspire the reader to go on to learn more and will instill a true appreciation for mathematics as both an art and a science. Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)510Natural sciences and mathematics Mathematics General MathematicsLC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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