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What Is Mathematics? An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods 2nd Edition
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Written for beginners and scholars, for students and teachers, for philosophers and engineers, What is Mathematics?, Second Edition is a sparkling collection of mathematical gems that offers an entertaining and accessible portrait of the mathematical world. Covering everything from natural numbers and the number system to geometrical constructions and projective geometry, from topology and calculus to matters of principle and the Continuum Hypothesis, this fascinating survey allows readers to delve into mathematics as an organic whole rather than an empty drill in problem solving. With chapters largely independent of one another and sections that lead upward from basic to more advanced discussions, readers can easily pick and choose areas of particular interest without impairing their understanding of subsequent parts.
Brought up to date with a new chapter by Ian Stewart, What is Mathematics?, Second Edition offers new insights into recent mathematical developments and describes proofs of the Four-Color Theorem and Fermat's Last Theorem, problems that were still open when Courant and Robbins wrote this masterpiece, but ones that have since been solved.
Formal mathematics is like spelling and grammar--a matter of the correct application of local rules. Meaningful mathematics is like journalism--it tells an interesting story. But unlike some journalism, the story has to be true. The best mathematics is like literature--it brings a story to life before your eyes and involves you in it, intellectually and emotionally. What is Mathematics is like a fine piece of literature--it opens a window onto the world of mathematics for anyone interested to view.
- ISBN-100195105192
- ISBN-13978-0195105193
- Edition2nd
- PublisherOxford University Press
- Publication dateJuly 18, 1996
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions9.02 x 6.05 x 1.06 inches
- Print length592 pages
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Product details
- Publisher : Oxford University Press; 2nd edition (July 18, 1996)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 592 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0195105192
- ISBN-13 : 978-0195105193
- Item Weight : 1.8 pounds
- Dimensions : 9.02 x 6.05 x 1.06 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #73,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #37 in Mathematics History
- #129 in Mathematics (Books)
- #374 in Core
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
![Ian Stewart](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/urg85jdrbiskuku9iouj90ript._SY600_.jpg)
Ian Stewart FRS is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of
Warwick and a leading popularizer of mathematics. He is author or coauthor of
over 200 research papers on pattern formation, chaos, network dynamics, and
biomathematics. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society since 2001, and has
served on Council, its governing body. He has five honorary doctorates.
He has published more than 120 books including Why Beauty is Truth, Professor
Stewart's Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities, Calculating the Cosmos,
Significant Figures, and the four-volume series The Science of Discworld with
Terry Pratchett and Jack Cohen. He has also written the science fiction novels
Wheelers and Heaven with Jack Cohen, and The Living Labyrinth and Rock Star with
Tim Poston.
He wrote the Mathematical Recreations column for Scientific American from 1990
to 2001. He has made 90 television appearances and 450 radio broadcasts, most of
them about mathematics for the general public, and has delivered hundreds of
public lectures on mathematics.
His awards include the Royal Society’s Faraday Medal, the Gold Medal of the
Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications, the Zeeman Medal (IMA and London
Mathematical Society), the Lewis Thomas Prize (Rockefeller University), and the
Euler Book Prize (Mathematical Association of America).
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book's content excellent and accessible to many levels. They also say it's an easy read with exercises. However, some customers feel it'd be better for math enthusiasts and others say it isn't a casual read.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book's content excellent for math enthusiasts, teaching advanced concepts and theorems. They also say it's simple to read, provides clear examples, and covers almost all the topics. Readers also appreciate the exercises throughout the reading and find the author touches almost all topics.
"...This book will teach you advanced concepts and theorems. It does not have the wording of an average textbook...." Read more
"...It reveals the beauty of Mathematics and the inconceivable nature of this imperfect world that follows its perfect laws." Read more
"...It is simple to read and gives hundreds of clear examples on solving mathematical problems and great insights into the history of mathematics...." Read more
"This is like a mathematics bible!!! It touches on subjects that I have learned as a math major throughout my college career...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the readability. Some mention that it's an easy read and contains exercises. They also appreciate the great clarity of the book. However, some customers say that it is not a casual read.
"...Well written, decently paced given the subject matter, and enlightening...." Read more
"If you love mathematics, you will love this book. It is simple to read and gives hundreds of clear examples on solving mathematical problems and..." Read more
"...and the smaller size type kind of blots together which makes it difficult to read...." Read more
"...It is also an easy read and I love how it contains exercises throughout the reading...." Read more
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These kinds of books teach wisdom, not just the subject in the title. It reveals the beauty of Mathematics and the inconceivable nature of this imperfect world that follows its perfect laws.
It’s a total nerd book, if you love math at the conceptual level, enjoy history, and the engineering aspect of how things came to be- this is a great book. I’m a network engineer, wife turned me on to this book from her college days - she was a math major. Well written, decently paced given the subject matter, and enlightening.
If none of the above interests you, the book may also be used as a soporific.
"It doesn't matter what mathematical things are: it's what they do that counts. Thus mathematics hovers uneasily between the real and the not real; its meaning does not reside in formal abstractions, but neither is it tangible. This may cause problems with philosophers who like tidy categories, but it is the great strength of mathematics -- what I have elsewhere called its 'unreal reality.' Mathematics links the abstract world of mental concepts to the real world of physical things without being located completely in either." - Ian Stewart, What is Mathematics?
...I was hooked and after reading it several times, I still can't put it down! Great job to all who contributed to creating this masterpiece.
Physical copy: 1/5
I own the paperback 1996 second edition from Oxford University Press, which was $15. Though the price is awesome for the amount of knowledge you get in this book, the print quality is not. It appears that the book is simply photocopied from an earlier edition. The margins are crooked from page to page, the weight of the font varies between lines, and the smaller size type kind of blots together which makes it difficult to read. Most importantly, I've found several places where small parts of notation are missing or cut off, probably from the photocopy not picking it up.
Overall, this is a wonderful book for anyone curious about serious math. It's cheap though, perhaps too cheap. It's due for a new typesetting in a new edition, even if it raises the price to $25-30. It might be better to look for an old hardcover of the book, even if it costs more than a new paperback.
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