|
Mathematics in 10 Lessons: The Grand Tour |  | Author: Jerry P. King
Publisher: Prometheus Books
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $10.95
as of 11/24/2009 16:59 CST details
You Save: $8.00 (42%)
New (18) Used (8) from $10.00
Seller: twobooksforyou
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 41022
Media: Paperback
Pages: 394
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.9
ISBN: 1591026865
Dewey Decimal Number: 510
EAN: 9781591026860
ASIN: 1591026865
Publication Date: April 2, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
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 themselves 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.
|
| Customer Reviews:
A lively format and explanations make for a readable survey of basic math principles and aesthetics September 18, 2009
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Mathematics in 10 Lessons: The Grand Tour deserves ongoing recommendation as a powerful guide to math for any outside the usual field. Its ten lessons are intended for the general reader who wants to know how math is done, but has little prior math knowledge. A lively format and explanations make for a readable survey of basic math principles and aesthetics perfect for those who would appreciate an easy, lively overview. Any general lending library will want this.
The necessity to understand mathematics is simple August 18, 2009
ROROTOKO (www.rorotoko.com)
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
"Mathematics in 10 Lessons" is on the ROROTOKO list of cutting-edge intellectual nonfiction. Professor King's book interview ran here as cover feature on June 3, 2009.
10 Easy Lessons make the grade June 15, 2009
Claire Jones (Huntsville, AL)
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is a good introduction book. It can be used for quick survey of topics. I used it as a refresh for topics I had some years back but forgot. There are enough worked proofs to satisfy me and a minimum of "proof left as an exercise". For that, I suggest the author create space on his errata website and post all the proofs left as an exercise.
I am an auto didactic and would benefit if the publisher made teacher's guides available on web to avoid printing costs.
Chapter 7 on probability could use additional material on distributions such as Gamma, Exponential, Poisson, and Weibull. Statistics section could use additional material on why Mean, Variance, Skewness, Kurtosis are called 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc Moments and simple proofs.
Calculus should keep what's there but could use additional material such as delta-epsilon graph showing the relation during Limits. Why stop with the derivative Power law? Include some other standard ones with proofs and explanations. A discussion, before differential equations, on related rates would be nice...with all the proof and example trimmings.
All-in-all a wonderful, remarkable book for the material.
|
|
|
|
Return to Math.com | |
