Journey into Mathematics: An Introduction to Proofs (Dover Books on Mathematics)

By Joseph J. Rotman

Book Overview

Students learn how to read and write proofs by actually reading and writing them, asserts author Joseph J. Rotman, adding that merely reading about mathematics is no substitute for doing mathematics. In addition to teaching how to interpret and construct proofs, Professor Rotman's introductory text imparts other valuable mathematical tools and illustrates the intrinsic beauty and interest of mathematics. Journey into Mathematics offers a coherent story, with intriguing historical and etymological asides. The three-part treatment begins with the mechanics of writing proofs, including some very elementary mathematics--induction, binomial coefficients, and polygonal areas--that allow students to focus on the proofs without the distraction of absorbing unfamiliar ideas at the same time. Once they have acquired some geometric experience with the simpler classical notion of limit, they proceed to considerations of the area and circumference of circles. The text concludes with examinations of complex numbers and their application, via De Moivre's theorem, to real numbers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486453065
• ISBN13: 9780486453064
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A very entertaining read

The book has a very interesting approach to a wide range of topics in maths. Uses lots of anecdotes and historical facts to motivate the reader. I haven't really sat down to the exercises, but I love the stories and pointers.. sure shall get at the sources mentioned, sometime.